Mervyn Edwin Roberts

Major Mervyn E. Roberts Jr., (Air Force retired) 93, died unexpectedly on March 17, at his home in
Liverpool, N.Y.

He was born on Feb.11.1929. the son of Mervyn E. and Sarah Roberts in Utica N.Y He enlisted in the Army on Sept. 17, 1946, serving a year in pre-war Korea. After discharge from the army in 1948 he joined the U.S. Navy Reserves and took part in Fleet Maneuvers in the Caribbean aboard the Destroyer USS Bristol. He graduated from Utica Free Academy in 1949 and entered Syracuse University majoring in Russian Studies and Journalism.

He was commissioned in the U.S. Army reserves in 1952 and graduated from Syracuse University in 1953. He then served two years in the 82nd Airborne Division and 77th Special Forces Group. After leaving active duty he was married to his beloved wife, the former Marjorie Kocher in the Syracuse University's Hendricks Chapel. He was employed as a reporter at the Utica Daily Press in Utica and transferred to the New York Air National Guard as a first lieutenant where he became a weapons controller.

He moved with his family to Lake Worth Florida in 1959 where he was employed as editor of the Lake Worth Herald. He was recalled to active duty in the U.S Air Force as a weapons controller in 1962 and served in California and Germany as a captain for four years. Returning to the states he served with the Civil Air Patrol headquarters at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Ala.

From there Major Roberts went to Korea serving with the United Nations Command for a year before returning with his family to McGuire AFB, New Jersey and finally to Okinawa, Japan, before retiring in 1979.

Returning to Syracuse, New York he was employed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Central New York as publications editor, retiring in 1994.

He resided with his family in Liverpool till his death.

Major Roberts is survived by his wife, Marjorie Kocher Roberts, two daughters, Deborah Bowen, Baldwinsville; Sarah (Kurt) Richardson, Liverpool; two sons, Mervyn (Gail) Roberts III, Texas; and Christopher (Kelly) Roberts, North Carolina; one granddaughter Anastasia Roberts, Berlin, Germany; and five grandsons, Alexander Bowen, Baldwinsville, Brian and Kyle Richardson, Liverpool; and Christopher and Joseph Roberts, North Carolina.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the New Comer Cremations & Funerals, North Syracuse. Interment will be in White Chapel cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Honor Flight Syracuse.