Rest in peace Dad
Frank W. Roberts, age 87, a Colorado Springs resident since 1966 and formerly of Albuquerque, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at his home in Colorado Springs. He was retired from the United States Air Force and was a realtor. Frank was born on September 8, 1921, in Albuquerque to the late Frank West and Hazel Pearl (Gerard) Roberts. He was a 1938 graduate of Albuquerque High School. In 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps. Initially he served as a navigator on B-17 bombers and flew twenty-six combat missions over Germany, France, and Belgium for the â??Bloody 100thâ?� Bombardment Group. He later became a fighter pilot, and a flight instructor. He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was on the ski team, graduating in 1948 with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Some of his more interesting jobs during his college years included pari-mutuel clerk at the horse track at the New Mexico State Fair and one summer on the Merchant Marine vessel Patrick, sailing out of San Francisco to Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines. In 1954, he was stationed at Greenville Air Force Base in Mississippi, where he met and married Mabel K. Jefferies on January 2, 1955. He retired as a Colonel from the Air Force in 1969 and sold mountain property for Mountain America Co. for a number of years. When he retired from that, he took up woodcarving and learned to cane chairs. He wanted a cabin in the mountains, so he built one, largely with his own hands. He liked gadgets and remembered everything he ever read. He could draw. He loved flying, and was an avid skier and fly fisherman. He loved the mountains and Colorado. He will be deeply missed. He is survived by his wife, Mabel; and his three children: Becky Bain, Bill Roberts, and Wendy Finley. He is also survived by a brother, Don; and four grandchildren: Julie (John) Zittrauer, Laura (Matt) Eckert, James Finley, and Kyle Haines. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 26 at Black Forest Community Church, 6845 Shoup Road. A reception will follow the services at the church. Inurnment will be at the Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleum, Columbarium of Tranquility. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Black Forest Community Church.
Frank W. Roberts, age 87, a Colorado Springs resident since 1966 and formerly of Albuquerque, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at his home in Colorado Springs. He was retired from the United States Air Force and was a realtor. Frank was born on September 8, 1921, in Albuquerque to the late Frank West and Hazel Pearl (Gerard) Roberts. He was a 1938 graduate of Albuquerque High School. In 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps. Initially he served as a navigator on B-17 bombers and flew twenty-six combat missions over Germany, France, and Belgium for the â??Bloody 100thâ?� Bombardment Group. He later became a fighter pilot, and a flight instructor. He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was on the ski team, graduating in 1948 with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Some of his more interesting jobs during his college years included pari-mutuel clerk at the horse track at the New Mexico State Fair and one summer on the Merchant Marine vessel Patrick, sailing out of San Francisco to Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines. In 1954, he was stationed at Greenville Air Force Base in Mississippi, where he met and married Mabel K. Jefferies on January 2, 1955. He retired as a Colonel from the Air Force in 1969 and sold mountain property for Mountain America Co. for a number of years. When he retired from that, he took up woodcarving and learned to cane chairs. He wanted a cabin in the mountains, so he built one, largely with his own hands. He liked gadgets and remembered everything he ever read. He could draw. He loved flying, and was an avid skier and fly fisherman. He loved the mountains and Colorado. He will be deeply missed. He is survived by his wife, Mabel; and his three children: Becky Bain, Bill Roberts, and Wendy Finley. He is also survived by a brother, Don; and four grandchildren: Julie (John) Zittrauer, Laura (Matt) Eckert, James Finley, and Kyle Haines. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 26 at Black Forest Community Church, 6845 Shoup Road. A reception will follow the services at the church. Inurnment will be at the Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleum, Columbarium of Tranquility. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Black Forest Community Church.
