Robert Louis Roberts, 94, passed away peacefully near mid-day on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at Palmetto Inn of Savannah Square.   Bob was born on May 16, 1929 in Montreal, PQ, Canada to J Frank Roberts and Florence Harrington Roberts. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bill; sister, Katy; and his wife, Elizabeth who he dearly missed. He is survived by three sons; Tom (Elaine) of West Point, VA; Peter (Gilonne) of Greenville and Anderson, SC, Chris (local Savannah artist); four grandchildren; Katie Roberts of Richmond, VA; Meg Arsenovic (Paul) of Diggs VA; Bianca Williamson (Clay) of Woodstock, GA and Timothy of Greenville, SC as well as two great grandchildren; Tessa and Lewie Arsenovic of Diggs VA.

The Roberts family moved back to the US to Knoxville TN from Montreal when Bob was in 1st grade, then in 1940 they moved back to Milwaukee where he graduated from St. Bernard School in 1943, Marquette High School in 1947 and Marquette University where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Stamm and earned a Baccalaureate in Philosophy in 1951.  He joined the US Navy and went to Officer Candidate School where he was commissioned an Ensign and was assigned to the USS Perkins, a destroyer in the Pacific Fleet.  He served as navigator for three years during the Korean War and was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant JG as the war was ending. 

Bob and Liz were married January 25, 1953 at St. Robert Church in Shorewood, WI, then moved to San Diego where Bob was stationed.   Upon being discharged from the Navy, they returned to Milwaukee, and he entered the University of Wisconsin where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1958.  Bob was working as a Start-up Engineer for the Allis Chalmers Steam Turbine Division.  Tom, Peter and Chris came while they lived in Brookfield, WI.   In 1965 the family moved to Savannah GA where Bob took a job as an Assistant Superintendent of the Power Plant at Union Camp’s paper mill until his retirement in 1991.  Bob was well respected by his workers and management and he enjoyed working with all of them.  Their job was to keep the seven paper machines running and the lights on!

Bob was a founding member of the Geechee Sailing Club and a 50 year member of the local Power Squadron where he taught the navigation section of their Safe Boating class for many years.   Bob was also involved with the Race Committee work leading up to and including the 1996 Summer Olympics when the sailing events were held off Wassaw Sound. He also instructed and certified all of the volunteers operating the support boats in local knowledge and safe boating while transporting competitors and support people.

Bob and Liz were married for 63 years until she passed in 2016.  They lived in Mayfair on Kent Court for fifty years and were active in St James Church and poll watching for the Chatham County Republican Party.  They enjoyed their friends from Savannah, Marquette U and Navy days.  They enjoyed traveling and visiting their grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, December 29, 2023 at St. James the Lesser Catholic Church at 8412 Whitfield Avenue followed by a reception in the conference room of the church.  Interment of Bob’s remains will follow at 12:30 p.m. in the Columbarium at the Catholic Cemetery beside those of his wife, Elizabeth.