Maurice Roberts

Maurice Clifford Roberts, age 91, of Silver Bluff Drive died Sunday, December 18, 2005 at his residence. He was a native of Canton and the son of the late Joshua Nathanial and Texie Silver Roberts. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Cogburn and two brothers, Richard and Kenneth Roberts. He was recognized in a special publication with 11 other alumni celebrating the 100 year anniversary of Warren Wilson College, formerly Asheville Farm School. He was employed with Champion Papers where he learned the Pattern Making trade. After World War II was declared, he worked as a pattern maker at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. At the end of the war, he was a model maker with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) where he saw many changes take place, changes in which he was deeply involved: air craft speeds increased from 200 mph to over 2000 mph. He helped develop the first full-scale model of the Swept Wing Jet Aircraft and worked directly with the first seven astronauts. When Maurice retired from NASA he was Head of the Composite Model Development Section. In addition to his wife of 67 years, Ruby Barrett Roberts, he is survived by a daughter, Sue R. Booker and her husband, Don of Waynesville; a granddaughter, Allison Galbraith and her husband, Brad of Asheville; a grandson, Keith Booker and his wife, Brenda of Atlanta; three great-granddaughters, Hannah and Rachael Galbraith and Savannah Booker; a great-grandson, Jack Galbriath and a brother, Floyd Roberts and his wife, Polly of Canton. Funeral services will be at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at the Canton chapel of Wells Funeral Homes with the Reverend Dr. Rick Gosnell officiating. Burial will follow at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery, Old Clyde Road . The family will receive friends from 2:30 until 4:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Warren Wilson College, P. O. Box 9000, Asheville, NC 28815-9000.

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