Edgar Waldo Roberts Jr. passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the family that he loved, at the age of 83, on February 6, 2025, in Loleta, where he lived for the last four years with his wife, oldest son and daughter-in-law.

Edgar Jr. was born in Los Angeles on May 26, 1941, to Edgar Waldo Roberts and Lois Lindley. Soon after, the family relocated to Vista, California, where Edgar grew up.

Edgar Jr. attended Vista High School, where he met his future wife, graduating with the class of 1959.

In 1960 Edgar Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Army and worked as a communications specialist for a missile artillery battalion while stationed in Italy, where he learned the skills that he would make his career after being honorably discharged in 1963. Edgar Jr. attained the rank of Sergeant E-5, and his service was a point of pride throughout his life.

In December 1966, Edgar Jr. became engaged to his high school sweetheart, Caryl Ann Colvin. They were married March 25, 1967, in Poway, California. Caryl and Edgar Jr. rented an apartment in Rancho Peñasquitos, until they bought their first and only home there in 1971, in which they lived happily for 51 years.

Edgar Jr. worked for AT&T and the various Bell companies like Pacific Bell and Southwestern Bell after divestiture, in local switching offices, for more than 40 years, retiring in 2003.

Edgar Jr. and Caryl raised two sons, Edgar III and Christian. He was heavily involved in his sons’ activities, including co-founding the Poway Youth Soccer Organization, coaching both boys’ soccer teams for numerous years, and a long tenure as a Webelos Den Leader and Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 622 in San Diego.

Edgar Jr. had many hobbies, including collecting and building plastic military model kits and re-enacting Civil War battles with the 20th Regiment Maine Volunteers. He was an amateur historian, focusing on World War II; his appetite for knowledge on the subject was ravenous and his library was the envy of many. Edgar Jr. enjoyed camping and traveling with his wife, spending as much time in their RV as they could, savoring their retirement. When he wasn’t out in the woods camping and fishing, he volunteered aboard the U.S.S. Midway Museum, at Gillespie Field, and the San Diego Aerospace Museum, restoring aircraft for display. He was awarded a leather flight jacket by the Midway Foundation for his volunteer work, which he was immensely proud of, and it will accompany him to his final resting place. Edgar Jr. was a lifelong fan of the San Diego Padres.

In February of 2021 Edgar Jr. and Caryl relocated to Loleta to live with their son Edgar III and daughter-in-law Laysha to receive the support they needed in their golden years. After selling their house in San Diego, Laysha convinced Edgar Jr. to enjoy his retirement, encouraging him to purchase another Ford Mustang, his favorite car, which he did, and he thoroughly enjoyed the car until he passed.

Edgar Jr. said many times that you make a lot of acquaintances in life, but you’re fortunate if you can call one person a true friend. Edgar Jr. was lucky enough to find that one true friend in Alan Chevalier. They met in 1977 and worked together for 40+ years, and continued their friendship after retirement, volunteering together on the Midway and at Gillespie Field. Edgar III was honored to facilitate one last phone call between the two best friends the day before Edgar Jr. passed.

He would often say he had lived a wonderful, fulfilling life.

Caryl and Edgar Jr had 56 very happy and loving years of marriage together. Caryl passed on October 4, 2023, in Loleta, surrounded by her family. When his time came, Edgar Jr. was more than ready to be reunited with the love of his life.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Caryl Ann (Colvin) Roberts; his youngest son Christian Erik Roberts; his twin sisters Janice (Roberts) Oliver and Joan (Roberts) Sorg, and his parents, Edgar W. Roberts and Lois Wilma (Lindley) Roberts.

He is survived by his oldest son, Edgar W. Roberts III and his wife, whom Edgar Jr. loved like the daughter he never had, Laysha Ann (Janak) Roberts, of Loleta; his grandchildren Molly Roberts of Fortuna and her partner Aaron Bradley; Callie Roberts of San Diego and her partner Jacob Ackenhusen; Daniel Roberts of Dayton, Ohio and his fiancé Mickenzie Grubb; Edgar W. Roberts IV and his wife Gillyanne (Noel) Roberts of Fortuna, and his great-grandchildren Edgar W. Roberts V, “Quinn”, Liam, Fisher and Krew Roberts; Ryan Yakely of Eureka, whom he loved like a grandson; his sister-in-law Dianna Henretty of Noel, Missouri and her husband Gary; his nephew Joe Henretty of Tulsa, Oklahoma and his wife Bethany, and his niece Jenny Omondi of Tulsa, and her husband Kevin.

Edgar Jr. will be laid to rest with military honors in the National Cemetery at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego, California on Friday March 7 at 0915. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Edgar Jr’s name to Hospice of Humboldt.

Edgar Jr. was a loving and devoted son, husband, father, grandfather (affectionately known as Poptart, while Caryl was Graham Cracker) and great-grandfather, and will be deeply missed by those who love him.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Edgar Roberts Jr.’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.