Obituary: Charles Roberson

Funeral services for Charles Roberson, 98, of Portales will be held at 2:00 PM, Mon., Nov. 27, 2023 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Dan Pierce officiating. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Bryan Moore, Jody Moore, Chris Smith, Brit Greathouse, Derek Moore and Tony Staggs serving as pallbearers.

Charles William Roberson was born July 10, 1925, in Dougherty, OK to the home of Bessie Maude (Crawhorn) and John Henry Roberson and died Nov. 21, 2023 in Portales, NM. Charles attended elementary school in OK before moving to Portales. He began hauling milk at Prices Creamery in 1943, but was inducted into the US Army in 1945. He served with the 20th Army Air Corps, 624th Aircraft Control Warning Squadron. There he drove 2 ½ ton trucks to haul water from purification tanks to the troops. In addition, he was responsible for keeping the trucks in running condition. Following his discharge in he returned to Portales, and continued to drive for Price's Creamery until they closed in 1957. They had the first milk tanker in the state of New Mexico holding Permit #1.

At that time, he established a hay hauling business which he operated until his retirement in 1996 due to his poor eyesight. On May 26, 1947, he was married to Laura Thetford. The couple had four children, a son and three daughters. He along with his family were faithful members of Trinity Assembly of God Church in Portales where he loved attending services. Charles also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Charles is survived by Laura, his wife of 76 years, of Portales; three daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Richard Moore of Portales, Janie and Gary Edge of Clovis and Katherine and Neil Greathouse of Willow Park, TX; 7 grandchildren, Brian (Susan) Moore, Jody Moore, Christopher (Tonya) Smith, Kara (Tony) Staggs, Rana Greathouse, Jada Greathouse and Brit Greathouse; four great-grandchildren, Katie (Zach) Hazlewood, Derek Moore, Meagan Smith and Mariah Staggs; 5 great-great-grandchildren, Charlie, Ella and Ruby Hazlewood, Miles Smith and Kellin Staggs; and a sister, Emma Jones of Port Aransas, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters, Louise and Mae Roberson, Nellie Faye Threat and Clairine Stewart; a brother, James Roberson; a grandchild and a great-grandchild; and his son, Kenny Roberson who died in 1995.