Ronald Edwin Roberts, age 84, of Lutz, Florida, passed away on January 4th, 2024 at the Tampa Lakes Rehab Center following an extended illness. Ron was born December 21st, 1939 in San Diego, California to his loving parents Edwin W. and Helen F. Roberts. He joined the U.S. Navy and trained at the Bethesda Naval Hospital as a Medical Technologist. He trained with the U.S. Marines as a Hospital Corpman Medic at Camp Lejeune. In May of 1966 he married his wife Sofia Martinez at a Naval chapel in NAS Jacksonville, Florida. He was transferred to Ft. Dix, New Jersey, then to a hospital ship in Vietnam and then Key West Florida, retiring from Naval Hospital Charleston, South Carolina after 20 years of serving the country. He returned to Lutz, Florida and started a business called Florida Locator working as a Genealogist. He then bought and remodeled houses before becoming a landlord of several rental properties. His proudest achievements were retiring from the Navy, raising three successful children, and being a mentor to young people. Teaching them the value of hard work. He enjoyed reading, pottery, calligraphy, art, watching the History Channel; But, mostly fishing with his son and grandchildren.
He is proceeded in death by his parents Edwin and Helen Roberts, his brother William, his grandparents Ezra and Anna Grammont and Edwin and Elizabeth Roberts.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years Sofia M. Roberts, his three children, Renee J. Olson (Tom), Stephen P. Roberts (Michelle), Jessica N. Roberts-Rossano (Tom), his grandchildren Joshua and Sofia Olson, Zachary and Savannah Vacca, and Sean and Alexis Roberts, his brother James L. Roberts (Lana), and his nieces and nephews.
A special thanks to the staff at Tampa Lakes Rehab, nurses and therapists of Avenna Healthcare and staff of the third floor of the Advent Health Hospital for helping with the final years of his life. In leu of flowers contributions can be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, First Responders, and your local VFW.
A Celebration of Life will be held on January 20th, 2024 in remembrance of his life and internment will be at Bay Pines National Cemetery on February 9th, 2024.
Rest in Peace Grumpy, we will miss you.