Joseph Linton Roberts, Jr.

oe Roberts of Amity, GA and Huntington, WV passed away peacefully at home in Amity with his family on January 14, including his wife of 65 years, Mary June Rogers Roberts. In addition to June, he is survived by his sons Joe, Darryl and Mike and his grandchildren Chris, Sarah, Evy, William and Thomas.

He was born and raised in Atlanta and graduated from Brown High School and Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, then went on to the University of South Dakota and the University of Cincinnati where he received his MS and PhD degrees in Chemistry. He met June in Atlanta and they were married on September 6, 1953 and were together from then until his last day.

He was a Professor of Chemistry at Marshall University in Huntington for 31 years and shared his love of science with generations of Marshall students. He also taught at the Huntington Fire Department, combining his professional interest in chemistry with his personal interest in firefighting and safety. He also had both a professional and personal interest in computers dating back to his graduate school days. After his retirement in 1997, he and June spent time in both Huntington and in June’s hometown of Amity.

He had a wide variety of friends and interests. He shared a keen interest in artistic glass with June and they spent years traveling to glass shows and talking with fellow enthusiasts. He was a dedicated Marshall sports fan and a longtime football and basketball season ticket holder.

Music was a lifelong passion for Joe. He played bass in the Atlanta Symphony, amateur orchestras and jazz bands, and played guitar and sang in country bands and with family and friends.

He was Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 700 in Huntington for many years and led countless camping trips, canoe trips, hikes and other outings over the years. Some of the same boys were also on the baseball teams he coached.

He cherished relationships and did everything he could to help others. He was a warm, generous man who loved connecting and sharing stories with family, friends and many others. He will be missed.

Graveside services will be held May 25 at 11am at Greenwood Baptist Church in the Amity Community (4281 Greenwood Church Road, Lincolnton, GA 30817), with a reception following at the church social hall.

If so desired memorial contributions may be made to the Lincoln County Library, 181 N. Peachtree Street, Lincolnton, GA 30817 or the Marshall University Chemistry Department, 450 Science Building, 1 John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755.

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