CALLAO—Rodney F. Roberts, 82, died peacefully at home in Callao on December 24, 2023.
Rod was born January 31, 1941, in Douglas, Isle of Man, where his mum had been evacuated from Liverpool during World War II. He spent his youth playing in the Liverpool neighborhood on Meadway and competing in many sports at Quarry Bank School. Rod was known to get into trouble a few times with fellow classmate and mischief-maker, John Lennon.
Following his brother, Rod attended HMS Conway for secondary education preparing for a life at sea. Alas, vision changes foiled that plan and he became a mechanical engineer. Working in the petrochemical industry he had jobs in varied locations including Iran and Hungary.
In 1973, he emigrated to Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada, with his family. Continuing in construction, he eventually worked for the Bucyrus Erie Company building large walking draglines. It was during a project near Birmingham, Alabama, that he met the love of his life, Carol, and they married in 1980.
With the era of building mining machines ending, Rod and Carol settled in the Northern Neck in 1984 and built a life. When running a marine store and assisting Rod in his marine service work business no longer appealed to Carol, Rod supported her as she pursued a career change to become a RN. He obtained his USCG captain’s license, delivered boats and ventured to the Caribbean, across the Atlantic and to the Galapagos to name a few. Back in Callao, Rod took on residential construction and renovations adding to his own home in addition to that of his many clients. He loved being his own boss.
In his later years, as Parkinson’s disease and eventually, PD dementia took hold, Rod clung to his independence with his strong will and determination. Rod never met a stranger, gave others second chances and played a mean game of Scrabble. Rod and Carol took opportunities to travel and Rod planned many of their trips like a cruise on the Canal du Midi with friends. He enjoyed cooking curry for others, partaking of good food and working on home projects. Rod felt an affinity with his Welsh roots and was moved listening to Welsh choral music along with other classical music. He had a dry sense of humor and loved to tease. He had a deep love of sailing the sea, a thirst for knowledge, a joyful connection to his family and pets and a cherished partnership with Carol. We will miss him, but know he is at peace.
He was predeceased by his parents, John Henry “Harry” and Rose Rigby Roberts; his son, Alan Roberts; and his grandson, Matthew McCreary.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carol; children, Helen (Jean Baillargeon) of Victoria, BC, Susan (Doug McCreary) of Mono, Ontario, and David (Laura) of Olympia, Wash.; grandchildren, Andrew and Michael McCreary and Nico, Russell, Kyle, Thomas, Daniel, Dylan, Sarina and Aliyah Roberts; his first wife, Valerie Roberts of Victoria, BC; and his brother, David, and sister-in-law, Linda, of Mornington, Victoria, Australia.
Thanks to the staff of the Hospice of Virginia (Tappahannock), caregivers from the Right at Home agency and staff of the VCU Medical Center, MCV Hospitals and Clinics. If you are moved to do so, please donate to a Parkinson’s related charity of your choice in his memory.
There will be a private wake held at a future date.
