Obituary of William F. Roberts, Jr.

"Bill"

Age 77, of Elmira, passed away on Sunday, November 19, 2017. Bill was born in Elmira, the only child of the late William F. and Helen Catherine (Dickinson) Roberts. Bill is survived by his children and their families: Christine and John Duvall of Elmira, with children, Abigail, Madison and Liam; Mark Roberts of Elmira, with Tammy Pipe, and his children, Elijah, Joseph, Rachael and Ian; Jennifer Roberts-O'Brian and husband Kevin O'Brian of Elmira, with children, Brenna, Seamus and Isabel; Erin and Scott Carpenter of Elmira, with children, Erica and Samuel; Michael Roberts of Edgewater MD, with children, Payton and Avery; Bernadette and Dustin Sramek of Elmira, with children, Sophie and Declan; former wife, and friend, Jacqueline Cotton Middaugh and her husband Brian of Palm Coast FL; his extended Mexican family, Juan Escobosa, Constanza Contreras and Francisco Salcedo; numerous great-grandchildren, cousins, and many good friends. Bill was a U S Navy veteran, serving as a corpsman with the First Medical Division attached to the First Marine Division. He was a driver for Millbrook Bakery, before managing the Red Room on Water Street. Bill later went to work as a railroad engineer, retiring in 1997 after 25 years of service. He was a member of the American Legion Post #154, White Eagles Club, Elmira Elks Lodge #62, and the John J. Lee Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. A devout Catholic, Bill was a long time communicant of St. Cecilia's Church until its closing. He then became a communicant of Ss. Peter and Paul Church where he served as an usher. Bill was an active man who enjoyed a number of regular weekly activities. He lived for hot dogs at Central Hots, every Tuesday after Mass, with friends. He enjoyed breakfast with friends at Anderson's Cozy Corner, and lived for trivia night at Horigan's with his team, "The Majestics". Bill made a weekly stop at Patrick's for a beer, Manzari's for spaghetti, and shared a meal every Friday evening with his dear friend, Bucky Lewis. Most of all Bill enjoyed filling time between his weekly commitments with his children and their families. His Catholic faith was central to who he was and his every act was driven by his devotion to our Lord. Bill had a soft spot in his heart for anyone living with a disability, driven by his love for his Aunt Nancy who lived with Down Syndrome. Family and friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira, on Friday, November 24, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, November 25, 2017, 8:45 a.m., followed by a 9:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Ss. Peter and Paul Church. Interment, with committal prayers and military honors, will then take place at St. Peter and Paul's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may remember Bill with a donation to ARC of Chemung County, 711 Sullivan Street, Elmira NY 14901.  Officers and members of the HIBERNIANS will meet at the funeral home on Friday, November 24th at 7:00 p.m. to conduct a service for our brother, Bill.  Officers and members of the ELMIRA ELKS will meet at the funeral home on Friday, November 24th at 7:15 p.m. to conduct a service for our brother, Bill.