Tommy David Roberts

Tommy David Roberts, age 67, of Charlotte Hall, MD, passed away on January 25, 2013 at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. Born in Altus, OK at Altus Army Field, he was the son of the late Redell Melvin Roberts and Clairebelle Watland Roberts Meyer and husband, for 17 years, of the late Joan May Koehler Roberts. In addition to his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his step-father, Gaylord Meyer and step-brother, Leslie Meyer, as well as his grandparents, Tenus and Annette Watland and Mr. and Mrs. David Roberts.

Tommy spent most of his childhood on a farm near Newman Grove, NE with his grandparents. He was baptized and confirmed. After his mother married Gaylord Meyer he moved to Norfolk where he attended Norfolk High School, Norfolk Junior College and St. John's College, Kansas. He received his Associate of the Arts Degree in Social Science from Essex Community College. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he took his basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO and his Signal Corps training at Camp Gordon, GA. SP4E Roberts was stationed at several places including Fort Mead, MD, Saigon and Qui Nohn, Vietnam where he served as a communications officer during the Vietnam War. He had worked as a Norfolk police officer and at one point served as Chief of Police at Scribner, NE. He also had been employed as a hay-bailer and truck driver for a moving and storage company and worked at a furniture and carpeting company.

He was a talented musician and was taught piano at a very young age. He enjoyed "tickling the ivories" for many and also played the guitar and harmonica. He was a variety and sing-along piano player, played an instrumental as a solo entertainer, and had even appeared on a Baltimore TV show where he became friends with talented artists, song writers and recording artists. He enjoyed socializing at the Vets Home. He was involved in many activities, dances, Bible Studies and A.A. meetings which played a large part in turning his life around. He loved clowning around and taking bus trips to Wal-mart. He collected flashlights, watches and cologne, he enjoyed photography. He stayed connected to his family through his typewriter and then computer.

Mr. Roberts is survived by his child, James E. Furley and his wife Cheryl Voet-Furley of Wyoming and their children, Sarah, Shayla, Samuel, Syrus, Jerry, Jaryn and James. Surviving family include step-siblings: Linda Barrett, Lila Russert, Lyle Meyer and LaVern Meyer, also step-sister-in-law, Marla Meyer, all of Nebraska, as well as several step-nephews and nieces.