Obituary of John R. Roberts

John Ronald Roberts, 88, previously of Middletown Township and Garden Spot Village in New Holland, Pa. passed away at Barclay Friends in West Chester on July 6, 2015 Born on October 20th, 1926 to the late John Howard and Mary Rebecca Roberts, he spent his youth in Grill, Pa., attending the four room grade school. He became the President of the 1944 Senior Class of Shillington High School, where he met his future wife, the class Secretary, the late Elizabeth Ann Rhoads. He played center and linebacker for the only undefeated football team in Shillington High history. John served in the Merchant Marines during the last year of WWII, and later graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy with a B.S. in Marine Engineering and a Commission as an Ensign in the USNR in December 1947. He graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University in June 1952, and was employed at the A. J. Schmidt & Sons Co., a steel fabricating company in Chester, Pa., from 1956 to his retirement in 1994. He was a life member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Fraternity. John was a past President of the Chester Junior Chamber of Commerce, and past Secretary of the Urban Renewal Council of the City of Chester. As a longtime member of the Chester Rotary Club and Director for two years, he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award. He was a member of the Rose Tree Media Adult School Board. He and his family were 40-year members of the Middletown Presbyterian Church, where he was a ruling elder serving on the Session and multiple committees. After retirement, he volunteered for the American Red Cross in Chester, and for a few years, at the Barclay Friends SNF. He is predeceased by his brother, Tjaden Richard Roberts who died in 2011, and his beloved wife of 49 years, ‘Betty Ann’ who died in 1997. He is survived by his three children and their families: son, John Hahn Roberts, MD (Helen) of West Chester Pa.; son, Kevin William Roberts, MD (Nancy) of Swedesboro NJ; and daughter, Gwen Louise Chabry (Rick Gurley) of Dove Creek, CO. Grandchildren include Brian W. Roberts, MD (Allyson) of Mullica Hill, NJ, John W. Roberts, Esq. (Randi Lynn) of Columbia, SC, Jody Lee Petersen (Ryan) of Philadelphia, Pa., Nicole Gurley-Roberts (Dan) of Cortez, CO, Michael B. Roberts, Psy-D (Karen) of Glassboro, NJ, and Jessica L. Roberts of Tampa, FL. Great-Grandchildren include Gavin, Carter, Serenity and Liam. He is also survived by his companion of the last 18 years, Eva Worrell of Oxford, Pa., as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. The family wishes to thank the staff at Wolman Assisted Living within the Barclay Friends Facility for their care and kindness to John during the 19 months he lived there. A graveside ceremony will be Saturday, 11:00AM at Middletown Presbyterian Churchyard, 273 S. Old Middletown Rd., Media, PA 19063. Luncheon for all family and friends will follow the above at the Town House on State Street in Media. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Barclay Friends, 700 N. Franklin Street, West Chester, PA 19380 or Middletown Presbyterian Church, 273 S. Old Middletown Rd., Media, PA 19063.