Lester Hubert Roberts

LESTER HUBERT ROBERTS

November 20, 1919 - November 17, 2017

Lester H. "Les" Roberts, a long-time resident of Farmington, New Mexico, passed away on November 17, 2017, at San Juan Regional Medical Center just three days short of his 98th birthday.
Les was born on November 20, 1919, in Elida, New Mexico, to Mellie Beth (Small) and Earl Alden Roberts. Les had two younger sisters, Zela (Davenport) and Sylvia (Casteel). In 1927, the Roberts family moved to Gilbert, Arizona. While in Gilbert, Les had a number of good friends that he remembered to his final days. He made spending money picking cotton for farmers in the area. In 1934, the family loaded a flatbed truck with their belongings and animals and moved to Farmington, New Mexico, where Earl had purchased a five-acre apple orchard. This led Les to learn about apples and he had a nineteen-acre apple orchard of his own when he had his own family.
Les graduated from Farmington High School in 1937 lettering in football and basketball. He worked in the Palace Market grocery store to earn money for college. He attended Ft. Lewis College near Hesperus, Colorado, where he took basic college courses, was active in campus life, worked in the college dairy, and still found time to letter in football and basketball. In 1940, Les was offered, and accepted, a part-time job in the Farmington Post Office. He continued his college endeavors by commuting the 45 miles to the Ft. Lewis campus.
In 1938, while at Fort Lewis College, Les met Lou Emma Johnson, who also attended Ft. Lewis. They were married on May 25, 1941. During the next few years, they lived briefly in Gallup, New Mexico, Pueblo, Colorado, Las Vegas, New Mexico, and New Boston, Texas, always returning to Farmington between moves. Their first son, Gary Earl, was born during their stay in Pueblo in 1942. In 1944, Lou Emma and Gary moved to Weatherford, Texas to live with her parents while Les served in the United States Army-Air Force. After Les' discharge from military service, the family returned to Farmington, where a second son, Lester Franklin, was born in 1946. In 1948, they moved to Ft. Worth where they lived while Les attended Texas Christian University and graduated with a degree in Commerce. The family moved back to Farmington in 1950 where Les worked in the US Post Office as a permanent part-time clerk. In 1951, the couple's third son, Breck Thomas was born and their fourth son, Steven Paul, was born in 1953.
In January, 1952, Little League baseball was officially organized in Farmington. Les served as Manager of the Farmington Shoe Store Tigers. One of his players was his 10-year old son, Gary. After three years, Little League expanded and Les moved to the El Paso Natural Gas Dodgers in the National League. He won 10 consecutive league championships with Dodger teams that included his other three sons-- Franklin, Tommy and Steve. In the process, Les helped mold the talents and character of many 8-12 year old boys. After Little League, he coached in Farmington's Babe Ruth League for several years. After being out of coaching, he returned to coach in the Willie Mays league where his grandson, Joshua Roberts was a team member. He also served the Farmington Amateur Baseball Congress by accepting the Mickey Mantle vice-presidency in 1989. In 1958, he was also instrumental in forming the forerunner to the Farmington Girls and Boys Club basketball leagues. Altogether, Les spent 27 years working with youth in Farmington through various sports programs.
Les was also successful in his professional life. He became Superintendent of Mails in the late 1950s, promoted to Assistant Postmaster, promoted to Postmaster in 1974 and Regional MSC Manager in 1979. All during this time, Les worked his apple orchard. In June, 1981, he suffered severe 3rd degree burns to most of his body and face. The metal barn and tractor on which he had been working was destroyed. He remained in the Bernalillo County Medical Center burn unit for six weeks. Even after his release from the hospital, many months passed before he could return to work. Eventually, Les returned to his postal duties and retired from Postal Service on April 30, 1986. His association with the Postal Service had spanned 46 years.
Les spent his first 17 years of retirement doing the things he loved to do... especially watching his grandchildren in their activities, playing bridge and dancing. In the next three years, Lou Emma's health declined and she died in May, 2006. Their marriage had been successful by any standard.
The next several months proved difficult for Les. Then, through his activities at the Farmington Senior Citizens Center, he met Lillian Horvat. Lillian had also attended Ft. Lewis and enjoyed the same activities as Les, especially dancing and playing cards. They were married in April, 2007.
Les is survived by his wife, Lillian Roberts of Farmington; sons, Gary Earl Roberts and special friend, Susan, of Birmingham, Alabama, Lester Franklin Roberts and wife, Joyce, of Mansfield, Texas, Breck Thomas Roberts and wife, Cindy, of Farmington, and Steven Paul Roberts and wife, Jill, of Albuquerque; grandchildren, Kimberly Christian (Gary) of Birmingham, Jason Roberts (Trina) and Joshua Roberts (Andrea) of Mansfield, Alison Roberts Durnavich (Sam) of Denver, Colorado, Samantha Roberts Cutler (David) of Alexandria, Virginia, Ryan Roberts (Hanne) of Little Elm, Texas,Timothy Roberts and Kelley Roberts of Albuquerque; and great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Roberts, Kelsey Roberts, Wesley Roberts, Breck Roberts, and Oliver Roberts all of Mansfield, Ava Roberts and Sawyer Roberts of Mansfield, Nicholas Christian and Alexander Christian of Birmingham, Breck Durnavich and Kai Durnavich of Denver, Leo Roberts and Aurora Roberts of Little Elm; and his sister, Sylvia Casteel (Melvin) of Aztec.
Les was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Lou Emma Johnson Roberts, his father, Earl Alden Roberts, his mother, Mellie Beth Small Roberts, his sister, Zela Davenport, his granddaughter, Amber Diana Roberts, and a daughter-in-law, Judy Roberts.
The four brothers would like to also recognize members of Les' extended families including Lillian's children Ed, Jim, Loretta, Robert, and Patrick and their families; Zela's children Barbara, Pam, and Kent and their families; Sylvia's children Carl ("Skipper"), Larry, and Jo Etta and their families; the family of Danny Roberts; the family of Austin Roberts; and Judy Roberts' children Rick, Brandi, and Shelly and Les' great grandchildren from her line, Reagan and Samantha.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 6 o'clock until 8 o'clock Monday evening, November 27, at the Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. A public memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28, at First United Methodist Church of Farmington, 808 N. Monterey Avenue, with Reverend Brian Adams officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Les' name and memory to the First United Methodist Church Foundation Fund, 808 N. Monterey Avenue, Farmington, New Mexico 87401, or the Boys and Girls Club of Farmington, 1925 Positive Way, Farmington, New Mexico 87401.