LOUISE AND JOE ROBERTS Fifty guests gathered...

LOUISE AND JOE ROBERTS

Fifty guests gathered to honor Louise and Joe Roberts on their

60th anniversary Feb. 1 at the Acapulco Restaurant in Burbank.

The Los Angeles natives were childhood sweethearts. They grew up

in the Echo Park/Silver Lake area and moved to Burbank in 1950.

The former Louise Watson graduated from Belmont High School, where

she was a cheerleader, honor student and valedictorian of her class.

Joe Roberts received his diploma from Marshall High School, where

he starred in football.

The couple were married Jan. 30 1943.

Joe held the rank of tech sergeant and served in the Army in the

Aleutians Islands and the South Pacific for two years during World

War II. He was involved in three island invasions with the infantry:

Attu, The Marshall Islands (where he received the Bronze Star) and in

the Philippines. It was on Leyte (in the Philippines) in October 1944

that he was shot by a Japanese machine gun and lost his leg. He

received the Purple Heart.

Louise served as PTA president, and worked closely with the

superintendent of schools on special committees. She was also a youth

director at her church for 20 years. Presently, she takes an active

part in various activities at American Lutheran School where her

daughter, Jill Roberts, teaches. All the children and parents know

her as “Aunt Louise.”

Also, the couple managed the first Ponytail Softball team in

Burbank.

Both still work with their son, Robb, at Joe Roberts Optical in

Burbank, where they still live.