Ginger Lori Eckert Roberts passed away unexpectedly on May 24, 2016 at her home in Boca Raton, Florida at 61 years of age. Ginger was born September 30, 1954 in Dayton Ohio, the only child of Imogene Crum Eckert and James Emil Eckert of Huntsville, Alabama. The family lived in New York and California before her father's job with Lockheed took them to Huntsville, Alabama where Ginger graduated in the class of 1972 from Grissom High school. Ginger then went on to receive a B.S. degree cum laude from Auburn University.

On June 3, 1978 Ginger married her college sweetheart, Ken Roberts of Trussville, Alabama, and shortly thereafter the two moved to Houston, Texas where Ginger took a job with Texas International Airlines which later merged with Continental Airlines. Though Ken and Ginger lived for many years in Houston, they would always show up for any family event whether it occur in Alabama or Connecticut or Georgia. Later when they moved to Atlanta the same remained true. After an amicable divorce Ginger and Ken remained the closest of friends.

Ginger was an avid reader and intrepid traveler and with the amount of time she spent in the air these two pastimes fit well together. Ginger was always up for a trip. Flying to Hong Kong for the weekend might be daunting for most, but not for Ginger. Her patience and easy-going nature made her the best of traveling companions. Whether it was traveling with Ken to Cozumel, Hawaii, Jamaica, Switzerland or Hong Kong or meeting up with her stepsisters in Guadalajara, Barcelona, Athens or Arbroath, Scotland, Ginger traveled light and easy. During her many decades working for Continental Airlines she and her close friend and co-worker, Rick Hunt, traveled together constantly to places such as Bali, Brazil, Belgium, Iceland, Finland, Greece, Guam, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico, Hawaii, England, Germany and The Netherlands—often returning to the places they particularly liked more than once.

Though, as much of a world traveler as she was, Ginger enjoyed the simplest of things most and would be just as happy to spend time sitting at someone's kitchen table or at a backyard barbecue as she would be viewing the world's greatest architectural wonders. Sitting and talking over a few beers or just as likely, a glass of milk was entertainment enough for her. Ginger did love her milk! Though Ginger was not one to speak much about herself, it was at these times she might share one of her stories—like the time when as a small girl she got a ride not from, but on, a famous TV star—she and Flipper were ever after on a first name basis.

Blue was Ginger's favorite color and she particularly loved being near the water. After moving to Boca Raton, Florida and transferring to Fort Lauderdale Airport with Continental she was able to spent a good deal of time out of doors, traveling to the Keys, camping in the Everglades or heading north to spend time with her friends Rick Hunt and Jim Varnauskas at their campground in Georgia. Recently, she had been looking forward to attending a Mardi Gras themed party there.

Ginger was pre-deceased by her parents, Imogene and James of Huntsville, her aunt ­­­­­­­­­­and uncle, Esse "Bobbie" Schwartz and Ed Schwartz of Boca Raton, her parents-in-law, Hazel and Roy Roberts, her brother-in-law, Roy Roberts and a step-father-in-law, Edwin R. Coffey, Salem CT.

The loved ones Ginger is survived by include her ex-husband and best friend Ken Roberts, Madison, Mississippi, her step sisters-in-law Susanna and Jane Coffey, New York City, her dear friends Rick Hunt, Greenwich, Connecticut and Jim Varnauskas Atlanta, Georgia and her beloved cats Rudy and Eileen.

There are no words for how much she will be missed by us all. A memorial service will be plan for later this summer.

Professional arrangements by:
Gary Panoch Funeral Home
6140 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33487
561-997-8580
www.gpanochfunerals.com