Individual Details
Harry A. Roberts
(16 May 1930 - 28 Oct 2015)
Harry A. Roberts, age 85 years of Niles, Michigan died at 10:08 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at Oak Crest Adult Foster Care in Niles.
He was born on May 16, 1930 in Dayton, Michigan to William J. and Abbie Ellen (Stephenson) Roberts. He attended Niles Community Schools, and was hired by the Berrien County Road Commission in 1946. In 1951, he joined the United States Army, served in the Corps of Engineers on foreign posts as a Corporal, and was discharged to the Enlisted Reserve Corps as an Honorable Veteran of the Korean Conflict. He returned to Niles, and continued his career with the Road Commission, retiring after thirty-five years of service.
Harry was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles. He was a Past Commander of the American Legion Post #26 in Niles, and had been the Flag Presenter at the funerals of local military veterans for many years. He was also a member of the Saint Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge #4, F. & A.M., the Niles Commandery #12, Knights Templar, the Loyal Order of Moose #978 in Niles, and the B.P.O. of Niles Elks #1322.
He was first married to Maudie Smith. Later, on January 23, 1985 in Las Vegas, Nevada he married the former Helen C. (Babcock) Klute who preceded him in death on July 18, 2000. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Marie Tokarski, Margaret Shields, Ethel “Sally” Thomas, Berniece Searles, and Gladys Brown; and brothers, Bernard Roberts, Jack Roberts, and Paul Roberts.
Surviving family includes his children, Don (& Leslie) Roberts of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Andrew Roberts and Tom Roberts, both of Niles, Ginger (& Mike) Plysko of Pontiac, Michigan, and Darla (& Floyd) Walls and Vicky Papczynski, both of Niles; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and Harry’s brother, Cecil (& Millie) Roberts and sister, Evelyn Jasper, both of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Harry Roberts will be at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Janet Van Lear, retired of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. The service will conclude outside the funeral home with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Michigan. Committal will be private, at a later date, at Mission Hills.
He was born on May 16, 1930 in Dayton, Michigan to William J. and Abbie Ellen (Stephenson) Roberts. He attended Niles Community Schools, and was hired by the Berrien County Road Commission in 1946. In 1951, he joined the United States Army, served in the Corps of Engineers on foreign posts as a Corporal, and was discharged to the Enlisted Reserve Corps as an Honorable Veteran of the Korean Conflict. He returned to Niles, and continued his career with the Road Commission, retiring after thirty-five years of service.
Harry was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles. He was a Past Commander of the American Legion Post #26 in Niles, and had been the Flag Presenter at the funerals of local military veterans for many years. He was also a member of the Saint Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge #4, F. & A.M., the Niles Commandery #12, Knights Templar, the Loyal Order of Moose #978 in Niles, and the B.P.O. of Niles Elks #1322.
He was first married to Maudie Smith. Later, on January 23, 1985 in Las Vegas, Nevada he married the former Helen C. (Babcock) Klute who preceded him in death on July 18, 2000. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Marie Tokarski, Margaret Shields, Ethel “Sally” Thomas, Berniece Searles, and Gladys Brown; and brothers, Bernard Roberts, Jack Roberts, and Paul Roberts.
Surviving family includes his children, Don (& Leslie) Roberts of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Andrew Roberts and Tom Roberts, both of Niles, Ginger (& Mike) Plysko of Pontiac, Michigan, and Darla (& Floyd) Walls and Vicky Papczynski, both of Niles; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and Harry’s brother, Cecil (& Millie) Roberts and sister, Evelyn Jasper, both of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Harry Roberts will be at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Janet Van Lear, retired of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. The service will conclude outside the funeral home with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Michigan. Committal will be private, at a later date, at Mission Hills.
Events
| Birth | 16 May 1930 | Dayton, Berrien County, Michigan | |||
| Census (family)-shared | 11 Apr 1940 | (William J. Roberts and Abbie Ellen Stephenson) Niles, Berrien County, Michigan |  |  | |
| Marriage | 12 Jun 1954 | Cass County, Michigan - Maudie Smith | | ||
| Marriage | 23 Jan 1985 | Las Vegas, Nevada - Helen C. Babcock | |||
| Death | 28 Oct 2015 | Niles, Berrien County, Michigan | |||
| Burial | Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Cassopolis, Cass County, Michigan | |
Families
| Spouse | Maudie Smith (1930 - 2004) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Spouse | Helen C. Babcock (1918 - 2000) |
| Father | William J. Roberts (1886 - 1961) |
| Mother | Abbie Ellen Stephenson (1894 - 1978) |
| Sibling | Bernice Roberts (1913 - ) |
| Sibling | Bernard Roberts (1915 - ) |
| Sibling | Gladys Roberts (1917 - ) |
| Sibling | Marie Roberts (1919 - ) |
| Sibling | Jack Roberts (1921 - ) |
| Sibling | Paul Roberts (1924 - 1977) |
| Sibling | Margaret Roberts (1925 - ) |
| Sibling | Ethel Roberts (1927 - ) |
| Sibling | Living |
| Sibling | Cecil Roberts (1934 - ) |
Notes
Census (family)-shared
William Roberts Head M 55 Michigan - WPA laborerAbbie Roberts Wife F 46 Michigan
Jack Roberts Son M 18 Michigan
Paul Roberts Son M 16 Michigan
Margaret Roberts Daughter F 14 Michigan
Ethel Roberts Daughter F 12 Michigan
Evelyn Roberts Daughter F 8 Michigan
Harry Roberts Son M 9 Michigan
Cecil Roberts Son M 5 Michigan
Endnotes
1. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K42D-T42 : accessed 22 September 2016), Abbie Roberts in household of William Roberts, Ward 3, Niles, Niles City, Berrien, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 11-56, sheet 1B, family 18, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1732..
2. "Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC8Z-PZG : 4 December 2014), Raymond Smith in entry for Harry A. Roberts and Maudie Smith, 12 Jun 1954; citing reference p 211; FHL microfilm 1,941,449..
3. Find A Grave Memorial# 154381776.