William Daniel “Bill” Roberts passed away the evening of Sunday, August 6, 2023 at Metcalfe County Health Center in Edmonton, KY at the age of 85. His parents were 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 he went on to attend the University of Florida. Bill 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 three children, Curtis (Natalia) Roberts, Greg (Gina) Roberts, and Christine (Roy) Wooten.
Bill was pre-deceased by his parents and his brother Richard (Jackie) Roberts. Bill is survived by his former wife, Carol of Edmonton, KY; son Curtis (Natalia) Roberts of New Port Richey, FL and children Austin and Brianna; son Greg (Gina) Roberts of Pueblo West, CO and children William Roberts; Evan (Nicole) Roberts; Jay (Kimberly) Roberts, Kayla (Larry) Trujillo with Brayden; and Zach (Bari) McDowell with Ayden; and daughter Christine (Roy) Wooten of Edmonton and children Connor; Isaac; Sorcha; Ariana (Alex) Vaughn with Monroe and Elodie; and adopted granddaughter Christina (Roger) Myers with children Emmah, Xander, Killian, and Vivienne.
Due to family travel needs, funeral will be Friday, August 18, 2023 at Grissom- Martin Funeral Home in Columbia, KY, with visitation at 11am and service at 1pm.
Grissom-Martin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements
