Elmer James Roberts Jr. passed away peacefully in his sleep Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
He was born Feb. 3, 1943, in Bellefontaine, Ohio, to Elmer James Roberts Sr. and Lura Maxine Roberts.
In 1961 he joined the United States Navy and was honorably discharged in 1964.
He married Naomi Jane Robinson on April 15, 1964, and she survives him in Ridgeway, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Randy Roberts, and grandson Adam Kindell and great grandson Keegan Kindell.
He is survived by their two daughters, Holly (Doug) Kindell, and Paulette (Henry) McCulley. His grandchildren were his pride and joy. He often said if he knew they were so much fun he would have had them first.
He is survived by five grandchildren. Natasha (Billy) Brown, Johnathan (Kelsie) Kindell, Nichele ( Caleb) Knerr, Joshua (Maria) Kindell, and Wyatt Kindell. He is survived by 11 great grandchildren Carson, Lucas, Chloe, Logan, Kasen, Cassidy, Hunter, Carly, Grayson, Mathew, and Dakarai. He is also survived by one brother Harvey (Bud) Roberts and several nieces and nephews. A special niece and nephew Allison and Jackson Robinson.
He retired from Rockwell-Meritor in 1998 after 30 years of service and worked several other part time jobs after that. He was a great welder and there was nothing he couldn’t fix. People all over brought their motorcycles, cars, lawn mowers and whatever else needed fixing to him. Even the Amish community brought him things to weld.
He loved motorcycles all his life and he restored a Whizzer and several Cushman. Him and his wife traveled all over the country on Motorcycle. He always had at least one and usually several. He was always tinkering on something even when he was suffering with afflictions and Dialysis. He had not been “finer than frog hair” for a really long time but he never stopped till the very end. He loved his family, wildlife, westerns and motorcycles.
He didn’t know a stranger and he helped everybody. He was a member of the American Cushman Association, The Methodist Church Of Big Springs, Ohio and the Eagles and the Amvets.
It was his wish to be cremated. There will be no viewing or funeral. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are being handled by Schindewolf-Stevens-Stout Funeral Home, Kenton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ridgemont library in Ridgeway, Ohio.