Earl Milford Roberts

Earl Milford Roberts, 83, of Chester, Virginia, passed away unexpectedly at home on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Born in Montana on May 8, 1939, he was the son of the late Albert A. Roberts and Claiborne Harris Roberts. He was also preceded in death by his beloved son, Earl Roberts, Jr., and his siblings, Jim Roberts, Albert Roberts, Howard Roberts, Harvey Roberts, Richard Roberts, Beverly Roberts, and Margaret Stocks.

Earl dedicated his service to the United States Army for seven years in the Vietnam Era. After 33 years, he retired from the Firestone Plant in Hopewell, Virginia. He was a lifetime member of the Moose and Knights of Columbus organizations in Hopewell, as well as a member of the American Legion in Hopewell. Earl loved his farm, “God’s Golden Acres,” immensely. He was always working with his hands, and could fix anything, which he did freely for anyone. He also enjoyed gardening, his tractors, hunting, and bird watching.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Joanne W. Roberts; six daughters, Letitia Martin (Kevin), Deborah O’Neill (Lin), Cynthia Flesher (Tony), Rebecca Underwood (Richard), Sharon Burton, and Elaine Shank (Stephen); his grandchildren, Joanna Collette, Joshua Underwood, Zachary Kothe, Jacob Kothe, Jessica Petty, Jamie Underwood, Caitlyn Kothe, Taylor O’Neill, Megan Kelleher, Connor Martin, Lindsey Shank, Morgan O’Neill, GraceAnne Burton, Samuel Roberts, Joseph Roberts, Michael Shank, April Burton, Julia Underwood, Daniel Roberts, Jeremy Underwood, and Luke Roberts; and great-grandchildren, Silas Underwood, McKenna Kelleher, Mason Kelleher, Sophia Sandoval, and Leland Kothe – All who loved their Daddy and Grandpa dearly. He is also survived by his sister, Dixie Jessup.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00a.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, 2901 W. Hundred Road Chester, Virginia 23831. The family will receive friends from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at the funeral home. The funeral service will be livestreamed, and can be accessed at www.ealvinsmall.com.