Sunday, June 11, 2017

PD reporter Dave Roberts passes away

Dave Roberts, 99, who once was a reporter in the Akron bureau of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, passed away Thursday, June 1.

Later, the Kent State graduate and wife Lyla F. Roberts operated a commercial photography business in Barlow, Florida before returning to Kent in 1955.

Dave’s obituary:

David W. Roberts

David W. Roberts, of Kent, Ohio, died late Thursday, June 1, 2017, at age 99.

He was born in Glouster, Ohio on January 2, 1918 and lived in Kenmore, Ohio from ages 9 to 14, before moving back home, and graduating from Glouster High School in 1936, where he was Class President, and played for the football team.

Later, he moved to Akron, and was a cub reported for the Cleveland Plain Dealer-Akron Bureau. Dave covered the city of Kent and Kent State University while attending Kent State. After Pearl Harbor, Dave volunteered for the Army Air Corp as an Aviation Cadet. He later married Lyla F. Leever, whom he met in Kent, Ohio. For several years following the war, he worked with Lyla to establish a commercial photography business at Barlow, Florida. In 1955, they returned to Kent.

Dave was a long-time cancer survivor, and did an amazing job overcoming his vision and hearing difficulties. He was an avid gardener, and fitness enthusiast. All who got to know Dave were enriched by his perspective on life. Dave passed away due to complications with his heart. He donated his body for study to the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio.

Dave was preceded in death by Lyla F. Roberts (wife); David M. Roberts (father); Edna Roberts (step-mother); Bertha M. Roberts (mother).

We will be celebrating Dave’s life at “Ode to Joy” at the Kent Garden

Club, on Saturday, June 17 from 10 to 12 p.m. The address is 480 Ravenna Rd., Streetsboro, OH 44241, at the corner of Ravenna Road and Seasons Road. In lieu of flowers, please bring a memory of him to share.

No comments: