Dick Roberts, LSHS ’38, passed away Sunday at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.
His obituary is here: Thauwald Funeral Home, Preston.
I didn’t really know Dick, as he was considerably older than I was. But I certainly knew who he was! He was a good friend of our neighbor, Gene Jones, as I recall. And at my young age, I considered him to be living on the cutting edge of excitement!
For example, he had a “trailer,” probably created from the rear end of a car, which was powered by the power takeoff of the tractor and pulled behind the tractor. It’s purpose was to push the tractor forward at speeds greater than the top gear of the tractor itself would take it.
This may have been during the war years. Back then, war or no war, not everyone had a car and tractors often were the main means of transportation. (Remember Reuben Lange, who lived north of Foreston? He never did have a car.) And during the war years, gasoline, tires, and many other commodities were rationed. And, being young at the time, Dick probably wanted to get around and get around fast so had the “overdrive trailer” to give him a little boost.
Now whether it was really Dick who had this, and whether he made it himself, I really don’t know. But that’s how I remember it.
As he’s from the Roberts family, I imagine that he was a great story teller. And even during this time of sadness, I’ll bet there will be many interesting stories told—some about Dick, some of events perpetrated by Dick, and some made up by Dick. And if there aren’t enough stories, his brother and cousins can surely add some!
Stories are good; they help the memory of departed loved ones live on.