Melvin W. “Noisy Bill” Roberts, born Sept. 27, 1911, in Indiana, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009.
He moved to Foley in 1916 where he attended Foley Schools. He played football during his high school years and, after graduation, was offered an athletic scholarship to the University of Alabama, which he declined in order to stay in Foley and take care of his aging parents.
He was inducted into the Foley High School Football Hall of Fame in 1986. He met Eunice Wilson in Foley at the Magnolia Hotel where she worked for her uncle and aunt.
He followed her to Illinois where they married. He worked as a machinist and they raised their two children in Illinois until 1952, when he moved the Roberts family back to Foley.
He worked for the City of Foley in the Parks Department for approximately 30 years. He was in charge of the parks and the Max Griffin pool. He made many friends during his time with the Parks Department, especially the children who swam at the pool and the youth who worked under his supervision.
In addition, to his Parks Department employment, he was a policeman in Foley and Gulf Shores, first aid instructor, volunteer with the Red Cross and Search and Rescue along with assisting with the local privately owned ambulance service.
He was a man of few words and was known by his early friends as “Noisy Bill” and later, lovingly, in his service at the park as “Old Mean Mel.” He loved his job as parks director, and the City honored his years of service and dedication by renaming the Cedar Street Park the “Melvin W. Roberts Park.” For 30 years until his death, he lived across the street from the park.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, a brother and his loving wife Eunice Wilson Roberts.
Survivors include a daughter, Patricia “Pat” (Skip) Davis; son Paul R. (Kathleen) Roberts; grandchildren Richard (Margaret) Davis, Randy (Lori) Davis, Heather (Scott) Rickles and Paul (Alison) Roberts Jr.; eight great-grand children, nieces and nephews.
Visitation begins at noon with funeral services at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 at Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the American Red Cross or the Melvin W. Roberts Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1619, Gulf Shores, AL 36547.
Arrangements are by Pine Rest Funeral Home Inc., Foley.
