Albert Jack Roberts

Al was born July 4, 1953, in Lakeland.
The story his mother told about his birth is: She felt it was getting time for
him to be born and was restless so she went outside and started mowing the
grass, being raised on a farm it was natural to be barefoot. She said she was so
embarrassed because she was at the hospital with grass stains on her feet.
It was described of Al: He was born on the 4 th of July and has been
celebrating ever since. He was active as a child and mischievous. We were close
to our cousins and played together often. If anyone got hurt, it was Al.
He was the one member of the family who had a sense of humor. He liked
to tease people and enjoyed laughing. His nickname, given to him by his Father
was Boogie. He put up with it as a child but in later years hated it. Some of the
relatives never changed what they called him.
He tried to play football to please his Dad and he was so small the coach
told him the first day, that he shouldn't try to play. He did enjoy watching sports
though. He followed College and Pro teams. He also liked auto racing. He
attended the races in Daytona several times.
As a teenager, he started working at Publix. He worked to get his 1 st car, a
Chevy Super Sport. He liked vehicles, but they didn't like him. He had a wreck in
1974 and had cranial damage. He suffered the rest of his life with seizures and
tried so many treatments we lost track. His life continued with many physical
difficulties, head to toe, he had so many broken bones it's like he was competing
with stunt drivers.
He was married to Edie Peterson from 1977 to 1979. He had a son, the
pride of his life, who was named after his Dad, his Grandfather, and his Great
Grandfather. He simplified his name to Gene. Al and Gene both had the soft
gentle spirit that could cry easily. Al was always concerned about what people
thought of him.
He worked at Piper Aircraft from 1979 to 1987. His size was helpful to get
into small areas to work on the planes. He worked for Breed Air safety for a few
years. He stopped driving in 1999, knowing it wasn't safe for him with the seizure
history. His last job was as a dishwasher. It was a small family type place close
enough for him to ride his bicycle. He enjoyed cooking, sometimes he would plan
ahead for the week how he could cook and have it last for several meals.
He was deeply loved and will be missed. We are celebrating with him to be
with family and friends in heaven.

A graveside service will be held, 10:00 AM Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at New Home Baptist Cemetery with Pastor Jeff Kidd officiating.

Online condolences can be made at www.lanier.care.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Lanier Funeral and Cremation Services, 717 Griffin Road Lakeland, FL 33805, (863) 687-3996.

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