Landon H. Roberts
December 2, 1921 ~ April 28, 2007
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville - Landon Haynes Roberts, 85, of Givens Estates, formerly of North Asheville, died Saturday, April 28th, 2007.
Mr. Roberts was born on December 2, 1921, to the late Guy Vernon Roberts and Evelyn Gudger Roberts of Marshall. He graduated valedictorian from Marshall High School in 1936. Mr. Roberts began his college education at Mars Hill College, transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he graduated and had completed one year of law school in 1942. With World War II looming, Mr. Roberts, enlisted in the United States Navy, entered Midshipman’s School in New York and was commissioned an ensign on his 21st birthday. He served his country as a naval officer on patrol craft in the Pacific theater for four years, receiving the Appreciation of the President of the United States, signed by James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy on May 12, 1946. At the conclusion of the war, Mr. Roberts returned to law school at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1946, receiving his law degree in 1948.
Mr. Roberts began his legal career in Asheville with the firm of Smathers and Meekins. He soon established a reputation as a leading trial lawyer in Western North Carolina, respected by both his clients and adversaries. Over the years, the law firm became "Meekins, Packer & Roberts", "Meekins and Roberts", "Roberts & Cogburn", "Roberts, Cogburn, McClure and Williams", and then in 1986, the firm merged with "Redmond, Stevens, Loftin and Currie" to become the present firm of "Roberts & Stevens".
Mr. Roberts previously served on the Board of Governors of the North Carolina Bar Association; as President of the Buncombe County Bar Association; as President of the Asheville Civitan Club; as Chairman of the Buncombe County Democratic Party Precinct #17; on the Vestry of Trinity Episcopal Church; as a Trustee of St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation. He was a member of the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners; a permanent member of the Judicial Conference for the Fourth Circuit of the US Court of Appeals; a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers; and a charter member of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. In 2005, he was made a Justice Fund Honoree by the North Carolina Bar Association.
He was also a member of Trinity Episcopal Church; the Gleaners Sunday School Class; the Asheville Civitan Club; the Zeb Vance Debating Society; and the Country Club of Asheville.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Roberts was also preceded in death by his brother, William Gudger Roberts, and his son, Landon H. Roberts, Jr. Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Jean Rankin Roberts; daughters, Anne Roberts of Asheville (formerly of Staunton, VA); and Kate Roberts Henry and her husband, Roger M. Henry, Jr., of Asheville; grandchildren, Robert Townsend Hooe of Staunton, VA; Riley Haynes Henry and Landon Roberts Henry of Asheville. He is also survived by Doris Oates, his secretary of 59 years.
A graveside service will be held at 4:30 pm Tuesday, May 1st, at Pritchard Cemetery in Marshall. For directions, please call Groce Funeral Home, 687-3530.
A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 am, Wednesday, May 2nd, at Trinity Episcopal Church with a reception immediately following in Tuton Hall.
Honorary pallbearers will be the attorneys and staff of Roberts & Stevens and members of the Asheville Civitan Club.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Asheville Civitan Club’s scholarship fund, PO Box 1755, Asheville, NC 28802.
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Jean, Anne and family, our hearts are grieving with you at this time. May a lifetime of happy memories and the knowledge that Landon is free of all earthly suffering sustain you during these sad days.
With deepest sympathy.
Frances and Barry Thackston
I enjoyed sharing office space with Mr. Roberts at Roberts & Stevens for six+ years; he always had a funny story and a ready smile. My sincere condolences to the Roberts family and friends and Miss Oates.
Mrs. Roberts, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Mr. Roberts was such a kind and considerate man. He always had great stories to tell and I loved to hear them. I will always remember him and his pipe. He was always so nice to me when I worked at Robert Stevens & Cogburn. When I left and would see him at Cogburn Goosmann Brazil & Rose he would always speak. He never forgot a face. I will miss him as I know you will. My prayers and thoughts are with you. Please let me know if there is anything I can do. Love to you all, Cathy Haddock
For Mr. Roberts remaining family my thoughts are with you in this time of grief. I grew up hearing Landon Roberts spoken of in my family (J. Winston Rice) as though he were a relative, in fact the last time I was home he came by to see my brother, Harry. He did a lot of good for N. Carolina, and will be missed.
Nancy & I send our love & sympathy to Jean, Anne & ‘Little Kate’..we’ll all miss Landon; he was a real corner stone! We’re distressed that we’ll miss the Memorial Service ’cause we’re at a reunion of the fellows I flew with during WW II which is in Cincinnati. Love, N & W
Mrs. Roberts: I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Mr. Roberts was one of a kind. I remember well bringing Jonathan to your house for a childrens Christmas party, we had a wonderful time. He always had a kind word for everyone and never seemed to forget a face. He will be greatly missed. Love to you. Terri and Ken McMahan
Dear Roger and Kate,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. We just wanted to send our sincerest sympathies. Please know that you and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Your family at DeVilbiss.
With much love and sympathy for our first family of North Carolina
Dear Jean, Margaret and I are in Paris and just learned of Landon’s death. We would certainly be with you at the funeral if we could but we don’t return until the end of the week. You know how much we love you and Landon and will be praying and thinking of you.
Tom and Margaret Steed
Jean, Ann and Kate,
We are so sorry to hear of Landon’s passing. He was always so kind to us.
We will fondly remember how he would ‘save’ turtles off the Blue Ridge Parkway and bring them home for the boys. He would lay them on the front lawn and then ring our door to tell us of our new ‘pets.’
Our deepest sympathies are with you all. Landon was a gentleman and a role model. We are so lucky to have known him.
Fondly,
Randy Greenberg
David Battle
Paul Battle
Dear Jean, Anne and Kate,
I am terribly saddened to hear of Landon’s passing. My earliest memories were of you. You were not just my neighbors…I viewed all of you as practically my family. You are in my thoughts now more than ever, although you have never really strayed far, despite the time and distance that now separates us. I miss sitting with Landon and the dog down in the den, smelling his pipe and listening to the contented gurgle as he smoked and occasionally ruminated on various topics. It was a place of peace for me. I miss walking in to your kitchen and Landon giving me a piece of fruit or making me tuna boats. I miss all of you. God be with you and grant you peace in this painful time.
Much Love,
Landis (Tricia) Loftin
Mrs. Roberts,
I am truly sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Roberts. You were both so kind to me when I worked for the firm during college. Every time I visit Asheville, I think of Mr. Roberts walking around town in a suit with a straw hat on his head and a pipe in his mouth. He was a source of wisdom for me during the four years I knew him and I know he will be greatly missed.
Anne and Robert,
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Becky, Patrick and Michael
Dear Jean, Anne and Kate,
Please accept my deepest condolences for the loss of Daddy Landon.
I wish I had known him better. Little Landon and I were always in so much trouble; we were always avoiding him. When he would catch us, he would light that pipe, gurgle and say ‘Gentlemen, I am truly disappointed……’. Thirty years later those words still make me grimace.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love,
Bobby
Jean and family,
Though it has been many years since we have shared time together at BLE functions, I have nothing but fond memories of Landon, his gentlemanly kindness, wisdom and humor. We are all the poorer for his passing.
Best wishes,
Greg Wallace
I loved and admired Landon for his character, intelligence and humor. Each time I saw Landon I detected a ‘twinkle’ in his eye…one that always left me feeling happy.
Jean, through the years you and Landon were part of Warner’s and my lives at many memorable events, and one unbearably heartbreaking one. I am blessed to have known this fine man. I pray that God will fill you with peace and comfort you and your girls during this time of loss.
Sincerely,
Bill
my thoughts and prayers are with you
Kate & family,
We are so sorry about your father’s death. I know you will miss him. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Love, Jolene & Larry
Nancy and I are so sorry to lose a friend and relative. Love to all the family and friends. Nancy & Pearce
Dear Jean, I am sending you this email because I can’t find your address. Ed and I read Landon’s obit in the Raleigh paper and appreciated what he accomplished. Of course his greatest was marrying you! Our deepest sympathy.MAry Hayes and Ed Holmes
I have been honored to be a friend of Landon’s for many years. He has been a great mentor and a wonderful role model for me and so many others. The way he lived his life, practiced law, and led his community in such positive ways was always inspiring. I am thankful to have had the pleasure to have learned from him and to have served with him on the Board of Law Examiners. Jean is in my thoughts and prayers and I wish her the very best.
Linda McGee
I worked at Roberts, Stevens & Cogburn in the early 90’s. I remember Mr. Roberts as a gentleman and fondly remember his tales of finding golf balls in his yard.
There is little we can say that will comfort you in this hour of your bereavement. Please accept for yourselves and all who mourn with you, our assurance of hearfelt sympathy.
Friends of Fairview, Staunton, VA
Jean, If I only had your address, I would write a real letter. Sean called me earlier with this news. My heartfelt wishes go to you and your girls. I, too, have some very very fond memories from the few short years I lived across the street from you and Landon, as do my children. Our first month in Asheville found us at a party in your basement. I have told countless people the story of how Dee Dee got her name. I remember Landon standing with pipe in hand, looking up at the sky and saying ‘God’s in His Heaven, and all is right with the world.’ Heaven now has another resident, and a father and son reunion. God Bless you Jean. Bunny Lore (Ahr)
I worked as George Tisdale’s secretary for many years & therefore had the wonderful opportunity to know Mr. Roberts. He was a TRUE SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN & it was an honor to have known him. I give you my deepest sympathy.
To Jean and the Family,
After retiring in early 1999. I realized that seeing Landon downtown with his hat and pipe was among one of the familiar sights that I missed. He was an icon – an always responsive greeter – and a dean of the downtown leaders. His image and manner will certainly stay in my memories.
May he and you be in peace.
My best,
Walt Gladding
As my brother so nicely stated, the memories of Jean and Landon and the years of living next to each other and sharing the craziness of my mother and Landon will live in our hearts forever. A dear man to be greatly missed. With love…DeeDee Morrison Acee
Kate and family, We are so very sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Most Sincerely, Scott and Amanda Keller
At LEAST 55 years of memories cannot be reduced to any appropriate words other than that I love you and all of yours, Jean, and grieve with you, even as I fondly remember you telling stories about Landon, and sometimes him about you, that amuse us all and make us all envious of the deep love you had for each other.
Kate and family,
We are so sorry for the loss of your father. He is a very special man and know he will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all now and always.
Love to all,
Angel and Bill Styres