Submitted by: Dan Rich

Harold A. Roberts

June 15, 1898 - May 8, 2000

South Bend Tribune 5/12/2000

Harold A. Roberts, 101, of St. Paul's Retirement Community, died after an illness on Monday, May 8, in Memorial Hospital. He was born in Negaunee, Mich., on June 15, 1898, to the late Alfred and Anna (Hakenjos) Roberts.

On July 29, 1933, he married Vera M. Pearce in Detroit, Mich. She preceded him in death on July 30, 1999. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Clyde; two sisters, Dorothy and Rena; plus twin granddaughters, Elizabeth and Emily, who died at birth in 1982. After high school the family moved to Ypsilanti, Mich., and he worked his way through college, attending Eastern Michigan University first and then transferring to finish his BS degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. He is survived by two sons, Michael (Kathy) of South Bend, Ind., and Dr. Steven (Carol) of Birmingham, Ala.; four grandsons, Gregory (fiancee, Denise) of Mishawaka, Ind., Gary (fiancee, Kim) of Lisle, Ill., Bryce L. and Keith L., both of Birmingham. He is also survived by a brother, George of Beverly Hills, Mich.; and by five nephews, two nieces, and many great-nieces and nephews.

Mr. Roberts retired in 1963 after 36 years as an automotive engineer with the former Bendix Corporation in South Bend. He later retired after 14 years as an engineer with the City of South Bend Water Works. He was a member of the Zion United Church of Christ and the Bendix Management Club. Always active, he had been a Scottsdale Mall walker for a number of years, and was a volunteer in church activities, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. He really loved his family, his church, his home workshop, and the University of Michigan.

Visitation will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, with services at 3:30 p.m. in the chapel of the Thallemer Goethals Funeral Home, Mishawaka. Officiating will be Rev. James Campbell, with burial to follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park.