Frank Samuel Roberts ²⁷²

The Ipswich Chronicle
Danvers, Massachusetts
Sept. 28, 2006


Frank S. Roberts, 87

Frank S. Roberts, 87, of Rowley, formerly of Plum Island, Georgetown and St. Petersburg, Fla., died September 23, 2006, at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport. He was the husband of Marion (Williams) Roberts.

Mr. Roberts was director emeritus at the F.S. Roberts & Son Funeral Home in Rowley and was licensed as a funeral director in Massachusetts in 1941 and in New Hampshire in 1943.

Born April 25, 1919, in Vienna, Maine, he was the son of the late Merton E. and Sadie (Collins) Roberts.

Mr. Roberts grew up in Georgetown and attended Georgetown public schools. After graduating from the former Perley High School, he went to Mortuary College in Boston to become a fourth-generation funeral director. He worked with his father, Merton E. Roberts in their family business for many years. He was later joined by his younger brother, Merton Jr., and in 1968 he brought his son, David, into the family business.

Mr. Roberts was a veteran of World War II. serving with the U.S. Army, 10th Mountain Division, 85th Mountain Infantry. He was qualified as a marksman and also as a heavy machine gunner. He fought in Italy and was awarded two Bronze Stars, one with an Oak Leaf Cluster.

Following the end of WWII and before being shipped home, Mr. Roberts was honored to have an audience with Pope Pius XII.

Mr. Roberts was a member and past master of the Charles C. Dame Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Georgetown, a member of the Merrimack Valley Past Masters Association, a former member and past patron of the Georgetown Chapter 176, Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the First Congregational Church of Rowley where he had served as a trustee. He was a member of the Rowley Cribbage Club, a charter member of the Rowley VFW Post 5707 and a former member of the Rowley Chamber of Commerce. He was also a former member of the Moose Lodge in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Mr. Roberts was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and his snowmobile. He was the first person in Rowley to own a Skidoo and traffic would stop on Main Street as he rode the snowmobile across the Town Common. He had been a registered Maine guide and spent many seasons hunting and fishing in the Allagash region of Maine.

Mr. Roberts was a special man who was loved and respected by all who knew him. His greatest joy was being with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He attended every activity they were involved in and was proud of all of their achievements.

In addition to his wife of 66 years, he is survived by his daughter, Sharon A. Emery of Rowley; his son and daughter-in-law, David W. and Gidget Roberts of Rowley; five grandchildren and their spouses, Mark Emery, Heidi and John Pinette, Lisa and Bill Barter, all of Rowley, Eric and Dawn Roberts of Amherst, N.H., and Joshua and Penelope Roberts of Beverly; his great-grandchildren, Shawn Pinette, Ashley Pinette, Kayla Roberts, Jacob Roberts, Liam Barter and Caleb Barter; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Harold and Ann Roberts of Farmington Falls, Maine and Merton E. Roberts Jr. of West Newbury; a brother-in-law and his wife, Edward and Charlotte Williams of Georgetown; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was also the father-in-law of the late Raymond L. Emery Jr.

Funeral services were held September 27 from the First Congregational Church, Rowley. Burial was in Main Street Cemetery. Arrangements were by the F.S. Roberts & Son Funeral Home of Rowley.

Donations in his memory may be given to The First Congregational Church, Steeple Restoration Fund, c/o Manager, First National Bank of Ipswich, Market Street, Ipswich, MA 01938.

  Events

• He appeared on the census in 1920 in Vienna, Kennebec County, Maine. He lived in the household of his parents.

• He appeared on the census in 1930 in Georgetown, Essex County, Maine. He lived in the household of his parents.

Frank married Marion Williams. (Marion Williams was born 15 April 1919.)