John "Jack" S. Roberts

Jack was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, the son of Arthur S. Roberts, Jr. and Frances Dinsmoor Roberts on July 10, 1930. He was the great, great grandson of General John Stark of Londonderry, New Hampshire who led the Green Mountain Boys to victory over the British in the Battle of Bennington, Vermont in 1777. General Stark coined the phrase “Live Free or Die”, which still stands as the New Hampshire state motto today. Jack was the last male direct descendant to carry General John Stark’s name.

Friends and relatives will remember John as “Jack”. As a young adult, Jack began his work career at various resorts while spending summers at the beloved family cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. He returned every summer he could to enjoy the lake, White Mountains, and proximity to the Maine shore, quaint Vermont villages, and the Boston area.

In 1947 the family moved from New Jersey to South Bend, Indiana where jack graduated from James Whitcomb Riley High School in 1949. He attended Indiana University/South Bend and Ball State University in Muncie before serving in the U.S. Navy Air Corps for two years during the Korean War. After the war, he worked for H.G. Christman Construction Company and completed a four-year U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship to become a journeyman carpenter.

Next, he worked in sales at Lowe Lumber Company in Mishawaka, Indiana and at Henderson and Crull Lumber Company in Osceola, Indiana. In 1964 he joined Weyerhaeuser Company of Tacoma, Washington and had a 22-year career in sales and distribution management moving around the country in the process. He retired in 1984 in Indianapolis and was a local architectural representative for five years before getting into the real estate business for several more years.

He enjoyed playing tennis and working part time on the front desk at the Indianapolis Racquet Club and Five Seasons Country Club. He also worked for South Bend Medical Foundation as a courier and for Will Wright Building Corp. as a salesperson.

Jack was an avid outdoor enthusiast and loved to ski, play tennis, fish and camping. He played baseball, and was an avid skier in the eastern, midwestern, and western parts of the United States.

He was very active in the Indianapolis tennis community and worked security for the RCA tennis championships. He participated in U.S.T.A regional and national tennis tournament for 20 years. In the senior division, he and his partner were nationally ranked in the 55’s doubles.

Jack was an active member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church where he served as an usher and Stephen Minister. He participated in a weekly bible study and the Indianapolis Great Banquet at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.

Jack volunteered at Fairbanks Hospital in the Fresh Start Café, because he admired the people and the atmosphere. He was the leading volunteer in number of hours given and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2014.

Jack also was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in Indianapolis and Naples Florida.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jim Roberts.

Jack is survived by his wife Linda Crockett Armstrong Roberts, his daughter Jennifer L. Roberts; stepchildren David W. Armstrong (Shawn), Carrie A. White (Marcus) and step-grandchildren Caili Armstrong, Moira Armstrong, Liam Armstrong, Reilly White.

Visitation for Jack will be held Friday, October 20, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Faith Church, 9125 N. College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46240, followed by a memorial service at 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jack's memory may be made to Faith Church, 9125 N. College Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 US, https://faithchurchindy.com/.