Paul Stephen Roberts, husband of Loretta Roberts, died on Oct. 3 of mantle-cell lymphoma. Paul resided in Malibu for 53 years, where he and Loretta raised their three children, Mary, Michael and Christopher.
Paul was born in Kansas City, Kan., to Lorena and Francis Peter Roberts. He was raised in Denver, Colo.. His brother, Frank Roberts, and sister-in-law, Alice Roberts, reside in Salem, Ore. Paul’s sister, Lorena Marie, preceded him in death.
In Colorado, Paul attended Regis High School and Regis College, graduating from the University of Colorado in 1956 with a degree in electrical engineering. Soon after graduating, he met Loretta at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Hollywood, and they were married in 1957.
Paul began his career in the aircraft industry at Lockheed Aircraft Company, and later held positions at Northrop and Douglas Aircraft Companies. At Hughes Aircraft Company, he was senior scientist of the Measurement Standards Group in the Primary Standards Laboratory. Paul worked on various advanced projects, including the first unmanned soft lunar landings. He also worked on standards that elevated communications with satellites and deep space probe. He retired from Hughes Aircraft in 1992.
According to his family, one of Paul’s great joys was hiking and backpacking in the wilderness throughout the years, making it to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite twice. And he always looked forward to playing tennis biweekly with his Crest Associates family at Pepperdine.
Paul leaves his children—Mary Neville (Dave); Michael Roberts (Karen); and Christopher Roberts; his grandchildren—John Paul Neville and Holly Jewel Neville; and many treasured nieces, nephews and friends.
Paul was also a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church.