Erling 'Butch' R. Roberts

LANCASTER - Erling R. 'Butch' Roberts, 75, of Grandview Drive, died at his home Saturday evening, April 16, 2016. Mr. Roberts was born in Lancaster on May 17, 1940 the son of John D. and Myrtle V. (Johannesen) Roberts. He attended Lancaster Academy for 2 years and went on to New Hampton Prep School to complete his primary education. At New Hampton he was captain of the baseball and basketball teams and won the Meservey Award for best all around student athlete. From there he attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated from the Whittemore Business School. On September 8, 1963 he married Margaret 'Peggy' Dickson of Colebrook. Butch is best known as a local entrepreneur and long-time owner of Robert's Motor Sales. A family automobile business he operated with his father and late brother John D. Roberts Jr. He was twice past president of the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Assn, past president of the Lancaster Rotary, member of the Chamber of Commerce, past member and chairman of the Lancaster Grand Prix, and served on the Colonel Town Spending Committee. For 37 years he was a director on the Lancaster National Bank Board and served as chairman for 17 years. He was also a Free and Accepted Mason, a 32 nd Degree member of the Shrine, and member of the Lancaster Snowdrifters. He served 6 years with the National Guard, 197 th Battalion. Butch enjoyed life and loved to hunt, fish, snowmobile, golf, meet new people and vacationing in Florida. He especially loved spending time with his family and having cookouts and gatherings at the family camp on Maidstone Lake. Surviving family members include a son, Michael Roberts and his wife Shelli of Lancaster; two daughters Michelle 'Shelly' Stinehour and her husband John of Lunenburg, Margaret 'Meg' Murray and her husband Ray of Lancaster; a sister Joanne Muise of Pittsburg, NH; 7 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by Peggy in 2012 and his brother John in 1991. At Butch's request there are no visiting hours. A graveside service with military honors will be held Friday morning, April 29 th at 11:00 AM in Summer Street Cemetery in Lancaster. Reverend Timothy Brooks, pastor of St. Paul's Church, Lancaster, will officiate. Following the service a Celebration of Life will be held at Butch's home on Grandview Drive. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to Lou Leaver Memorial Fund, Inc., Colonel Town Recreation Department, P.O. Box 110, Lancaster, NH 03584, the Lancaster Fire Department Assn., 25 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584 or the Mason A. Cliche Memorial Scholarship Fund; Attention Beth Lufkin, 127 Regional Road, Whitefield, New Hampshire 03598.

Erling 'Butch' R. Roberts

May 17, 1940 - April 16, 2016