Roll Call Tribute

Published in The (McAllen) Monitor from January 10 to January 12, 2013

HARRY LONG ROBERTS
HARRY LONG ROBERTS EDINBURG - Longtime Edinburg resident and Valley auto dealer, Harry Roberts, passed away on January 9, 2013 at the age of 88. He was born in Georgetown, Texas on September 1, 1924 to Lloyd Jefferson "L.J." Roberts, Sr. and Frances Sarah Long Roberts, and moved to Edinburg, with his family as a small child. Harry attended Edinburg schools and graduated from Edinburg High School in 1941. He attended Edinburg Junior College for one year and then enrolled in the Corps at Texas A&M University in College Station. While home on spring break from college, Harry met Marjorie Mae Tisdale of McAllen (who was known to her friends as "Tiz"), the beautiful girl who eventually became his wife. Due to the outbreak of WWII, Harry interrupted his studies in 1944 to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in Gulfport, Miss. and achieved the rank of Quartermaster Third Class As luck would have it, Marjorie had moved to nearby New Orleans to pursue her master's degree at Tulane University, and their relationship continued to blossom. Harry was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1946 and went on to graduate from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science and Business degree. He loved being an Aggie and was a proud member of the class of 1946. Following college, Harry returned to Edinburg and he, alongside his brother, L.J. "Bob" Roberts, Jr., worked for their father, who had owned Standard Chevrolet in Edinburg (formerly called Standard Motor Co.) since 1927. On June 24, 1950, Harry married Marjorie, his beloved wife of 57 years, and they made their permanent home in Edinburg, until her passing in 2007. After college, Harry graduated from the school of General Managers what was then called the Chevrolet Dealers' Son's School in Detroit, Michigan. Harry and Bob worked with their father until he retired and left the business to them in 1957. In 1968 the dealership was re-named Roberts Chevrolet Co. Harry and Bob were Chevrolet dealers for over 50 years, and the Roberts family represented Chevrolet in the market for well over 70 years. Harry will long be remembered as a man of integrity, with an abiding faith in Christ and deep love for his family. He was a true gentleman who doted on his wife, was fair-minded, patriotic, loyal, forgiving of others, and honest to a fault. Harry was an excellent father, husband and businessman who took special delight in dining in Mexico with his family, traveling about with "Tiz", bird hunting with his sons and friends, reconnecting with his Aggie friends and their spouses, and watching Aggie football. He had a wonderful sense of humor, but never laughed at anyone else's expense. He spent little on himself, but was generous with others. What's more, he was civic-minded and committed to giving back to the community. Harry served on the Edinburg School District for 17 years and was president for two terms. He was also president of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce in 1956 and was the Chamber's 2002 Don Fiesta honoree. In addition, he served as Chairman of First State Bank and Trust Co. in Edinburg, and was treasurer for the Friends of the Edinburg Public Library for 15 years. He was Area 14 councilman for A&M University for many years and was a member of the Texas A&M Alumni Association. Harry was also a Rotarian with 30 years of perfect attendance, a member of the First Baptist Church of Edinburg, where he was a deacon, and a member of the McAllen Country Club. In his later years, Harry served as a volunteer at the Edinburg Public Library and Edinburg Regional Hospital. Harry is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his brother; and his sister, Sarah Louise Roberts Baker. He is survived by his sons Gregory Long Roberts and wife, Ruth of Arlington, Tx.; and Stephen Mark Roberts and wife, Terese of Brownsville, Tx.; daughters Rebecca Ann Roberts Wittenburg and husband, Kent of Lynnfield, Mass.; and Francis Lee Roberts Case of Axtell, UT; grandchildren, Ross and Natalie Wittenburg, and Landon and Lauren Roberts; step grandchildren, Tracy Diederich Stone, Robin Diederich, Denise Kuri, Christine Kuri and Joseph Kuri; numerous nieces and nephews, as well as grand nieces and nephews; and Maria Gonzales of Reynosa, Mexico, beloved housekeeper for 49 years. Pallbearers include Landon Roberts, Ross Wittenburg, Joseph Kuri, Kent Wittenburg, Mitchell Roberts, Kip Roberts and Jack Wallace, Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Tom Aderhold, Harlon Bentzinger, John Freeland, Jim Holzem, Cullen Looney, Tom Mumford, Dr. Charles Queen, Blutcher Smith, and Jack Wallace, Sr. The Roberts family would like to gratefully acknowledge the following doctors for their dedication to Harry: Raul Martinez, MD, Linda Villarreal, MD, and Sam Hargis, DDS. In addition, a special thanks to Harry's caregivers: Marie Castillo, Londie Rios, Adelita Rios, Edgar Hernandez, Carmelo Reyes and Homer Davila. Visitation was held Friday, January 11, 2013, at Skinner-Silva Funeral Home in Edinburg. Funeral services will be held today, Saturday, January 12, 2013, at 10:30 am at the First Baptist Church of Edinburg, 201 E. Samano St. in Edinburg, with the Rev Nick Acker officiating. The Rev. Canon, Susan Colley Joplin, of Oklahoma City, OK., a dear family friend, will be delivering a special eulogy. Following the funeral, a private burial service will be held at Hillcrest Cemetery in Edinburg. In lieu of customary flowers, memorial contributions in Harry's memory can be made to the Dustin M. Sekula Memorial Library, the First Baptist Church of Edinburg, or the charity of your choice . Funeral services are entrusted to the care of Skinner Silva Funeral Home of Edinburg. Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries