Billy Roberson, 1933-2023

Billy (Bill) Wayne Roberson (90) passed away peacefully on May 16th, 2023, in San Angelo, TX with the love of his life Kathy Roberson by his side.

Born on April 1st, 1933, to Scott and Marie (Knipp) Roberson, in Waco, Texas, he spent his youth in Waco and then Corpus Christi, TX. Bill was a 1951 graduate of Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi, TX. He then continued his education at Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX and Sul Ross State University in Alpine, TX. After graduating from college Bill was both a High School teacher and Texas State Champion High School Basketball and Baseball Coach in both Karnes City, TX and Robstown, TX. When he wasn't coaching, he was an extremely competitive Fastpitch Softball player and spent most of his off-time traveling across Texas from tournament to tournament. He remained in close contact with his former students, players and fastpitch teammates throughout his life. Before long, he moved to Corpus Christi, TX and got into the commercial insurance business for the then named "Employers Insurance of Texas".

He would continue to work in Insurance for the rest of his life. In the mid-1960s he moved with Employers Insurance to Houston, Texas where he met Jean Elaine Collier at work. They were married in Mexico City, in 1970. They had two sons, named William Todd Roberson and Terry Wayne Roberson. In 1974, the family moved from the Walnut Bend neighborhood of Houston to Oak Creek Village in the Spring-Klein area of Northwest Houston.

Bill was a very resolute advocate for, board member of, and coach for Spring-Klein Baseball, Football and Soccer. Coaching all three sports year round, his teams won a total of 4 State Tournaments in youth Baseball and Football. Bill was incredibly involved in the community and served as Chairman and President of the Bammel MUD for 10 years. He was an elected member of the Spring ISD School Board, and the Klein Fire Department. He was also a founding member of Champion Forest Baptist Church where he served on the Long-Range Planning Committee and served as Director of the Single Adult Department.

Bill was married to Katherine "Kathy" Nelson Babbitt, in 1988 until his passing in 2023. They were introduced by a lifelong friend and colleague, and their first date was at Mama's Cafe on Westheimer in Houston, TX. Soon thereafter they were married in San Antonio, TX on the Riverwalk. For 35 years Bill and Kathy were two peas in a pod and loved one another very deeply.

If possible, Bill and Kathy would eat out every meal at a cafe, diner, or Mexican food restaurant. He loved the banter between he and the waiters and waitresses. Kathy would try to keep him in line, which she rarely did as they were too busy laughing at his latest prank. He loved country music, especially Garth Brooks. He kept his great sense of humor to the end.

He was an avid deer hunter and spent most of his weekends in the fall on hunting leases from Franklin, TX to Fredericksburg, TX. During the Spring he was in heaven hunting Rio Grande Turkeys, which he called "playing Marco Polo with a Gobbler".
Bill was a strong-willed personality and could be stubborn at times, but he also had an enormous heart and a wonderful/world class sense of humor. He was generous, loyal, and incredibly humble. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through all of his life experiences: the great depression, insurance sales, sports, and hunting. He could name every High School mascot from ANY Texas High School at any time. He also possessed the ability to fix or build anything.

Forever proud of his children, and five grandchildren he proudly referred to them as "his greatest accomplishments". He was known for loving them greater than he ever imagined possible. He will be remembered for all the heart and love he shared with his friends and family. He truly loved each of them- and if you knew him, you knew it. When his time came, he carried himself with dignity, strength, and full of love for those who went before him. He will be missed dearly.

He was preceded in death by his Father Scott Roberson, and Mother Marie (Knipp) Roberson. He is survived by his wife Kathy Roberson of San Angelo, TX; his sister, Ann Echols of New Braunfels, TX; his two sons Todd Roberson, of Pearland, TX, and Terry Roberson and his wife Marianna Roberson of Houston, TX; and his five grandchildren Hunter Roberson, Henry Roberson, Lucia Roberson, Fiona Roberson and Theodore Roberson.

In typical Bill Roberson fashion, with humility as his guide, he wished to be cremated. Asked that no funeral services be planned, and most certainly no "pomp and circumstance". A celebration of life will occur in Houston, TX with date, time and location to be determined.