Keith Alan Roberts

Keith was born in Los Angeles, California on October 22, 1946 to Dr. Clyde and Betty Roberts. They moved to San Angelo in 1949. Keith attended Santa Rita Elementary, Lee Jr. High, and graduated from San Angelo Central High in 1965. He was a first chair trumpet player in the Central band and played the electric organ in a local band called The Mystics. Keith attended Angelo State University for one year before volunteering to enlist in the United States Navy where he proudly served for 27 years. He was a 1974 graduate of the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, a 1986 graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey, California with a Masters in Communication, and he received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Angelo State University in 1998.

While in the Navy, Keith served on the submarine USS Menhaden RM2 from 1968-1971, where he was the Leading Radio Man on the vessel. He also served on the Kiska, the USS John A. Moore as the Ships Control Officer, and on the Meyerkord. He was executive officer of Surface Warfare School Pacific in Coronado, California from 1988-1991, and Chief of Staff for the U.S. Naval Forces Alaska in Juneau, Alaska, from 1991-1994.

Keith Roberts received numerous awards during his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal, two Navy commendation medals, Navy Expeditionary Medal, two National Defense Medals, Navy Enlisted Good Conduct Award, Vietnam Service Medal and Expert Pistol Medal. He also received a Certificate of Appreciation for Service in Armed Forces from President Bill Clinton.

Commander Roberts was an avid Ham radio operator. He was a member of the San Angelo Amateur Ham Radio Club of San Angelo and Emergency Monday Check In. Keith logged thousands of hours talking with friends around the world using his call name K5LSM. He was well known for his brilliant mind and his quick wit and sarcasm. He was a true countryman and patriot and believed strongly in standing up for the country that he loved and fought for.

A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church on November 29, at 11:00. There will be a private three volley salute to Commander Roberts at Goodfellow Air Force Base at a later date and he will receive a burial at sea with full military honors.

Keith is survived by his wife, Carol Roberts and her children Courtney and Trevor Butts, daughter Tammy Endicott and her husband Greg of Spokane, Washington, daughter Deanna Vick and her fiancé Dean Kemmer of Rathdrum, Idaho, and daughter Tricia Marcel and her husband Jesse of Liberty Lake, Washington; eight grandchildren, Gabi Endicott, Graydon Endicott, Matthew Endicott, and Mitchell Endicott, Gannon Vick and Chelsea Vick, Anthony Marcel and Audrey Marcel; his sister Ann Stringer and her husband Frank Stringer, his sister Patsy Cleere and her husband Kirk Cleere. Keith was a special uncle to Ali Keating and her husband Thad Keating of Denver, Colorado and their children Max and Fischer, Jamie and Amanda Stringer of Denver, Colorado, and Dixon Cleere of College Station and Jewel and Jabyn Cleere of San Angelo. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends including Joe and Judy Christian, Alex and Sylvia Papoutsas, Jim and Kathy Barrow, and Bob Taylor.

Carol would like to extend her sincere appreciation to the head/neck and reconstruction team at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The family requests that memorials be made to Show of Support Hunt for Heroes, San Angelo Ham Radio Club, or the American Cancer Society for the establishment of a skilled nursing facility to assist throat cancer patients needing a dobbhoff feeding tube.