David Mathew Roberson

David Mathew Roberson, Sr., passed away January 13, 2024, in Blue Skies of Texas East, formerly known as Air Force Village, San Antonio, at the age of 92. David was born in Marietta on March 14, 1931. He graduated from Marietta High School in 1949. David attended Oklahoma A & M Junior College at Wilburton and Tulane University on football scholarships. In the fall of 1952, persuaded by old friend Charles Sewell, David took a test to see if he could qualify to join the Air Force Aviation Cadet Program. He received his wings in October of 1953 and received a letter the same day from his “favorite old girlfriend,” Verna Mae Zeek. They were married on Christmas Eve.

Mathew was born in 1956, Valerie in 1958, and Douglas in 1960. Besides several stateside assignments, the five of them lived in France, Japan, and in England twice. Everywhere they went the family was involved in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. David was so proud of the adults they became.

David flew to many countries while stationed in Europe and in the Far East. In 1955, while stationed at RAF Manston, England, the F-86D Sabre (the new jet fighter everyone in the Air Force was excited about) arrived. Following a great deal of training, mostly in Libya, David was one of six pilots stationed in Europe selected for the USAF Worldwide Gunnery Meet back in the U.S.

The following four years David was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base as base operations officer and test pilot. During that time, he was an instructor as well as pilot for several General officers. Perhaps the favorite of his flying opportunities was the day the University of Oklahoma coaching team was invited to Tinker for individual rides in two-seated jets. David took Head Coach Bud Wilkinson for his first jet ride.

David served in an outfit known as Scatback the year he was in Vietnam. They flew daily orders and also took VIPs around Southeast Asia. Occasional passengers were General and Mrs. Creighton Abrams. The wife of the U.S. ambassador to South Vietnam was the ambassador to Nepal; David and his copilot enjoyed being their guests for Christmas of 1969.

David’s last assignment in the Air Force was Tinker AFB and he stayed in Oklahoma City to study heating and air conditioning. After getting the required licenses he worked for a large company in the city, but soon convinced Verna Mae that with their children gone they should “go home to Marietta.” David had a one-man heating and air conditioning business here.

Hunting and fishing were David’s hobbies; he and his dog spent many hours on the banks of Red River. For 20 years he and Verna Mae enjoyed renewing old friendships, making new ones, and participating in First United Methodist Church activities.

In 2000, with no relatives remaining in Oklahoma, the couple decided that retiring where there is a large military community and Air Force base privileges would be a wise move. San Antonio is known as “Military City USA” and David enjoyed spending time and swapping “war stories” with fellow retired military officers. His new hobby of geocaching occupied a lot of his time. The couple learned to play the ukulele, joined a large citywide band and later helped form a band for the Air Force Villages. The small band played all kinds of music and became a standing-room only activity in the Villages. David really enjoyed life there.

Following a massive stroke on his 90th birthday, David became a patient in the skilled nursing facility on the same campus. Three weeks after celebrating 70 years of marriage, David left this life for an even better one, with his wife and three children at his side.

David was predeceased by his parents George Melvin Roberson and Velma Lucille Mathews Roberson, brother George Roberson, Jr., and sister, Jane Gaither. He is survived by his wife, Verna Mae Zeek Roberson; son David Mathew, Jr and wife Loretta; son Douglas and wife Sandy; and daughter Valerie; grandchildren David Mathew III, Daniel, Andrew, Stephanie, Brittany, and Elizabeth; and great-granddaughter Baretta.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE WITH FULL MILITARY HONORSMONDAY, APRIL 29, 20241:15 PMFT. SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY1520 HARRY WURZBACH RD.SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78209