Charley Robert Roberts

Charley Roberts, 94, died on March 5, 2021, in Sutter Creek, CA. Charley was born on August 25, 1926, in Wishart, MO to Vivian and Louis Roberts. He attended Drury College in Springfield, MO, and received a professional certificate in business. He was married to (Bonnie) Jean Fetrow, the first and only love of his life for nearly 71 years, in Springfield, MO while both were working at the Gospel Publishing House. Together, they ministered at a sanitarium along with supplying ministry to small country churches. He and Jean moved to Costa Mesa, CA in 1950 where he worked in the finance department at Southern California Bible College. Charley worked as a cost accountant for various businesses and retired from Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA in 1988 after twenty-five years of service. While at Aerospace, he taught a weekly Bible study for fellow employees and led a weekly prayer group. He was active in prison ministry at Terminal Island Federal Penitentiary, and twenty-five years of ministry to three rest homes in the area. Charley was a gifted musician as both a singer, pianist, and director. He served as Minister of Music at Temple Assembly in Compton, as well as Wilmington First Assembly. For many years, he was the organist/vocalist at Ivy House Wedding Chapel in Inglewood, CA. After retirement in 1988, Charley and Jean moved to Sutter Creek, CA to be close to grandchildren. He immediately became a regular volunteer at Preston Youth Correctional Facility in Ione, CA, and logged 32,430 hours of service until the facility closed in 2011. Charley oversaw the rest home ministry in Amador County. Each Sunday, after teaching a Bible study and leading congregational singing at Preston in the morning, he and Jean would go to five different rest homes to facilitate services in the afternoon. He taught weekly Bible studies at the Amador County Jail for nearly twenty-five years and enjoyed seeing his “graduates” out in the community being productive citizens. Charley received the California Congressional Volunteer of the Year Award for his many hours of volunteer service to the state. Charley joined the Gideons International in 1989 and served in numerous positions, including State Chaplain and Camp Chaplain and Secretary. His joy was distributing Bibles and sharing the ministry to churches in Northern California. The loves of his life were his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his wife, and his family. His many friends were an immense joy to him. Charley is survived by his wife, one sister, two children, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one beloved daughter, one brother, and two sisters and his parents. Friends are invited to attend a memorial service held at Sutter Creek Baptist Church on Saturday, March 13 at 11:00 am with an outdoor reception on the church grounds following the service.