Robert "Bobby" Roberts

On May 26, 2019 Robert Lowell Roberts,83, Captain USAF Retired, call sign “Tache”, answered the Lord’s call to Eternal Rest at 10:20 am at Bethany House (Hospice) in Auburn, AL. He was a native of Evansville and Princeton Indiana. He will be buried next to his parents, Luther H. and Musetta Roberts in Sand Hill Cemetery. He was also preceded in death by his older brother Luther A. (April 2002), his younger brother David M. (Oct 1993), grandparents Georgia and Henry Lyles and granddaughter Jessica Willis. Daddy was the last of his immediate family.

Bobby was born Dec. 19, 1935. As a boy Bobby loved spending summers on his grandparent’s farm in Princeton. He and his brothers helped sell produce at the roadside vegetable stand. Bobby graduated Lincoln High School Evansville, IN and went on to graduate Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, AL, May 1958, B.S. in Architecture and excelled in Air Force ROTC. While studying at Tuskegee Bobby met and married Earnestine Hill of Auburn, AL. Robert was commissioned into the Air Force in September 1958 and retired as Captain in 1979. Robert was a dedicated Air Force serviceman. In addition to “Tache”, other call signs were “Bobby” “Bob” “Mr. Bob”. He went on to be very active in civilian life with various organizations.

Air Force Accomplishments:
United States Air Force 1 Sept. 1958 Planning Programming Engineer – Navigator – Radar
Interceptor Officer F-101B VooDoo Helper Defender East & West Coast USA (Cold War)
Weapons System Officer F-4 DCE Phantom “Fighter Gator” –
Vietnam War 251 Combat Missions Over Southeast Asia-
NATO F-4E Help Defend Western Europe (Cold War)
Civil Engineering NCOIC Site Development & Drafting Departments –
Awards & Decorations
Distinguished Flying Cross-1
Air Medal–14
Combat Readiness Medal 4
Plus 7 more A & D
Walked away from a crash-landing April 1972 Bitburg AFB Germany without a scratch.
Civilian Life Accomplishments:
Tuskegee Lumber Co., Inc
Project Manager including 2 Historical Buildings, Dr. George Washington Carver’s Museum & Gray Columns an Antebellum Plantation Mansion (now the home for the Tuskegee University Presidents)
Tuskegee University Instructor (Professor)
Construction Management & Science Special Consultant to Leader Construction Co. for Gray Columns 2nd Renovation.
Fayetteville State University: Director of Physical Plant
Whirlpool Corporation Refrigerators
Owner of Henry’s Produce Market

Bobby was also a member of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge and Lifetime member of the American Legion.