William A. Roberts

William A. "Mr. Bill" Roberts, Sr., 87, of Owensboro, passed away Saturday, July 11, 2009 at his home. Born in Owensboro on October 14, 1921, he was the son of the late Frank and Bertha Thompson Roberts; was President of Roberts Motor Sales; and was a member of Settle Memorial United Methodist Church. A graduate of Owensboro High School, he attended Vanderbilt University and the General Motors Institute and was a Navy veteran of World War II. Mr. Roberts was a Past President of the Kentucky Auto Dealers Association, was the first Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year winner, was Kentucky's only four-time Best in Class Buick Dealer; was President of the Buick Dealer's Regional Council; and in 1977, was the Time Magazine Kentucky Quality Dealer Award recipientthe most prestigious award a new car dealer can receive. He was also a Kentucky Colonel and member of the Citizens Committee on Crime Prevention. Mr. Roberts enjoyed his family, his work, and his many fishing trips.

Preceding Mr. Roberts in death were his wife of 66 years, Mary Nora Reid Roberts on December 31, 2008; a son, William A. Roberts, Jr., on January 31, 2009; an infant daughter, Norah Katherine Roberts; an infant grandson, Gavin Anthony Roberts; infant great-grandsons; Bryson and Ethan Kerr Dehner; his sister and brother-in-law, Louise Roberts Kahn and Norman Kahn; and brothers-in-law, Bob Reid and L.S. Cox.

Survivors include his children, Hadley Harrington and her husband Larry of Owensboro, Janet Eaton and her husband Mike of Wilmore, KY, Bob Roberts and his wife Kathryn of Owensboro, Norah Qabazard and her husband Ali of Lexington, and John Roberts and his wife Jeannie of Owensboro; a daughter-in-law, Valarie Roberts of Owensboro; his grandchildren, Beth Harrington, Jack Harrington, Rob Harrington, Kris Sandefur, Mason Roberts, Carson Roberts, Katie Dehner, Jamison Dehner, Bryan Eaton, Bradley Eaton, Sarah Eaton, Rebecca Eaton, David Eaton, Heather Roberts, Keeley Hargis, Robert Berry, Andrew Berry, Kate Berry, Steven Roberts, Christopher Roberts, Jarrod Reynolds, and Jordan Reynolds; 24 great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law, John Reid and his wife Charlotte; his sister-in-law, Katherine Cox; his sister-in-law Wanda Josey; and Margaret Roberts, and his long time caregivers, all of Owensboro.

Services, officiated by the Rev. Ed Bradley, are at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Glenn Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday and after 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Owensboro Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by VFW Post 696.

It was Mr. Roberts' wish that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to the Goodfellows, c/o the Messenger-Inquirer, P.O. Box 1480, Owensboro, KY 42302.

Online condolences may be left at www.glennfuneralhome.com.