William Daniel “Bill” Roberts, 85, passed away on Sunday evening, August 6, 2023 at the Metcalfe County Health Center in Edmonton, KY. His parents were the late William Darius “Dius” Roberts and Cynthia Edna (Hudspeth) Roberts of Immokalee, Florida.
Bill was born into the large Roberts family that settled in Immokalee in 1914. They founded the Red Cattle Company that at its peak, worked 5,000 head of cattle over 150,000 acres of combined owned and leased land. Bill grew up ‘cow hunting’ on horseback across the rugged landscape that bordered the Everglades. He has recounted that his mother frequently did missionary work with local Seminole women and children, and the local medicine man often met with his father in their home. Bill was proud of this heritage and the “Old Homeplace” is now the Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bill grew up in Immokalee, graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama and went on to attend the University of Florida. He was a cattleman, a television repairman for RCA, and a degreed nutritionist.
Bill married Virginia Carolyn Cribbs of LaBelle, Florida on August 14, 1960. Over the years they lived in Gainesville, FL; Denton, TX; and Little Rock, AR. Together they had 3 children: Curtis (Natalia) Roberts, Greg (Gina) Roberts, and Christine (Roy) Wooten.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Richard (Jackie) Roberts.
SURVIVORS:
His former wife: Carol of Edmonton, KY
2 sons: Curtis (Natalia) Roberts of New Port Richey, FL & his children: Austin & Brianna; and Greg (Gina) Roberts of Pueblo West, CO & his children: William Roberts, Evan (Nicole) Roberts, Jay (Kimberly) Roberts, Kayla (Larry) Trujillo with Brayden, & Zach (Bari) McDowell with Ayden
1 daughter: Christine (Roy) Wooten of Edmonton, KY & her children: Connor, Isaac, Sorcha, Ariana (Alex) Vaughn with Monroe & Elodie
Adopted granddaughter: Christina (Roger) Myers with her children: Emmah, Xander, Killian, & Vivienne
Due to family travel needs, the funeral will be Friday, August 18, 2023 at Grissom- Martin Funeral Home in Columbia, KY with visitation at 11:00amCT and the service at 1:00pmCT.
Grissom-Martin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
