Obituary: Gordon Lee Roberts
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Gordon Lee Roberts, LTCDR, 87, of Montevallo, Ala., passed away Nov. 9, 2011.
He was a native of Harrisburg.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Gerald Roberts and Maude Bramlet Roberts; two brothers, Thomas Gerald "Jerry" Roberts, Jr., and William Hale Roberts; and a daughter, Leesa Ann Roberts.
Gordon graduated from Harrisburg High School and enlisted in the United States Navy in August of 1942. He served as a flight instructor and later as a fighter pilot on the U.S.S. Siboney. As World War II closed, he flew recon missions over Japan. Honorably discharged from the service in 1946, he continued in the United States Naval Reserves; serving in the Memphis-based jet fighter squadron 791. He attended the University of Alabama where he earned a bachelor of science degree in mineral engineering in 1950. He worked for U.S. Steel in Birmingham, Ala., as general mine foreman of the Concord Mine. He was also Vice-President of mining operations at Jim Walter/U.S. Pipe and Foundry Coal Division, where he was instrumental in the development of the Blue Creek Mines located in the Birmingham and Brookwood areas. He finished his career working as superintendent of the Exxon/Monterey coal mines number one and two located in Carlinville and Albers. He retired in 1987, living the majority of his retirement in Largo, Fla., where Gordon enjoyed fishing from his boat, the Em-me. He then moved to Montevallo, Ala., where he had lived for the last four years, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster. In addition to his love of family and friends, one of his greatest enjoyments was Alabama football.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Emily C. Roberts; son, Jerry (Tammy) Roberts of Hoover, daughter, Lea Ann Allen of Montevallo; and five grandchildren, Timothy Lee Allen, Stephen Thomas Allen, Kaitlyn Elise Roberts, Jacob Gordon "Hub" Roberts and Joseph Thomas Roberts. He is also survived by a brother, Harold E. (Pattie) Roberts of Henderson, Nev.; a sister, Alice (Dick) Herink of Canton; and sister-in-law, Lorie M. Roberts of Alexandria, Va.
Visitation was be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at the First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster (Highway 119 South) and was followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Mark Davenport officiating. A private burial was held in the family plot at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park in Tuscaloosa, Ala. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster. Rockco Funeral Home, Montevallo directing. Please share condolences online at the Internet site www.rockcofuneralhomes.com