Wilson Jennings Roberts

Wilson J. “Wil” Roberts, Sr. (U.S. Navy Retired), age 90, of Alexandria, VA, passed away on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at home surrounded by family and friends. He was born and raised in Georgetown, South Carolina as the elder son of Wilson G. Roberts and Annie Avant Roberts, and is survived by two children, Elizabeth Roberts Glasser and Wilson “Chip” J. Roberts, Jr. Mr. Roberts was preceded in death by his loving wife and partner of 56 years, the former Robbie Anne Davis.

Mr. Roberts was a natural athlete who excelled at many sports throughout his life. He attended Presbyterian College (Clinton, SC) on a private athletic scholarship where he became a star baseball player and well-respected leader on the field as a talented catcher. After graduation, Mr. Roberts became a commissioned naval officer and soon attained his dream of earning aviation wings and qualifying to fly multiple military and flight instruction aircraft. As an avid learner, he also held Master’s degrees in business and economics, as well as completed work at the Naval Post Graduate School (Monterrey, CA) and the Naval War College (Newport, RI). Mr. Roberts was a squadron airplane commander during the Vietnam conflict, and received various military recognitions of meritorious achievement, including the Joint Service Commendation Medal for senior service to The Joint Chiefs of Staff (Department of Defense). In retirement, Mr. Roberts enjoyed a successful second career in the real estate and private mortgage business and was a longtime member of Belle Haven Country Club (Alexandria, VA).

Private memorials will be held at Pawleys Island (SC) and in the Elmwood Cemetery and Annex of the Duncan United Methodist Church, the oldest Methodist Church in South Carolina, founded in 1785, where generations of the Roberts family found faith and fellowship. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to http://act.alz.org/goto/CommanderRobertsteam in support of the Alzheimer’s Association.