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Obituary for Herbert C. Roberts
Herbert C. Roberts passed away May 8 in a hospital from an extended illness following COVID-19. Herb was born in Richmond, California on June 17, 1943, to Garlen W. Roberts of OK and Helen Johnston Roberts of TX. In his childhood he lived in several states including TX, OK, the Dakotas and CA. His family settled in El Cajon, CA when he was about nine. He graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon in in 1962 and attended college for a short time in Los Angeles County. He married Kathleen M. Howard on January 12, 1963, in La Cresta (Crest), CA. They lived in the Los Angeles area from 1963-1967. They moved to Denver, CO in 1967 and back to El Cajon in 1971 where they lived until moving to Smith River in 2007.
As a youth he started his work experience by working for the California Department of Forestry in Julian and La Mesa, CA. He worked as a lineman and a switchman for Pacific Bell in Culver City. After that he worked as a manager for Jack In The Box in Gardena, CA from 1964-1967. He was in a partnership called “El Quatro, Inc.” with his brothers Jim and Bill and a friend Eddie Turner, building and running Taco Bells. Then later in a partnership with Roy Dixon and Andre Henderson, owned and operated many Taco Bells in four different states. In Denver, CO, they acquired the land, built the buildings, and ran the operations. In the early 70’s he and his brothers bought three restaurants in the San Diego area. Over time they sold two and Herb kept one called “The Summer Place” in the Hillcrest area, which he owned from about 1972-1984. After he sold the restaurant he went into the printing business with his friend, Vic Schroeder, called “Graphic Printing” in El Cajon. They owned it from 1984-2000 when Herb sold his share to Vic. In 1997 he was in a partnership with his brothers owning the Chetco Inn in Brookings, OR. He bought them out in 1998 and extensively remodeled it into the Chetco Inn Residential Care Facility. He also helped the Sandpiper area and AAA Storage off Freeman Lane in Brookings in the 90’s. His favorite business by far was the Chetco Inn where he felt he made a difference in some peoples’ lives.
Herb belonged to the Denver Jaycees from 1967-1970; to the BPOE (Elks) #1934 I Brookings for 13 years. He was on the board of the Epilepsy Society of San Diego County for 25+ years. He loved to watch football and owned season tickets to the San Diego Chargers for 36 years. He attended three Superbowl’s. He had been known to enjoy a good game of golf in his day.
He was preceded in death by his parents Garlen W. Roberts, Helen Roberts Browning, stepdad J. B. Browning, his stepsister Victoria Browning Roberts, his brothers Jim Roberts, Bill Roberts, and his son Todd Roberts. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kathleen Howard Roberts; his son Kevin Roberts (Janine), daughter Kim Champion, stepbrother Jeffery Browning, 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren along with cousins, nieces and nephews.
There will be a visitation at Redwood Memorial Chapel, 1020 Fifield Street, Brookings, OR 97415 from 1 pm to 7 pm on Saturday, May 21, 2022. A graveside service will be held at the Smith River Pioneer Cemetery at 2 pm on Saturday June 4, 2022, officiated by Pastor Kris Hayne. A Celebration of Life will be held at Azalea Park at 2 pm on June 18th.
The family suggests memorials go to the Epilepsy Foundation of America.
