James Silas Roberts Jr., 87, of Hammond, Ind., died Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 after a short illness.

Born Dec. 18, 1936 in Jonancy, Ky. to the late James Silas Roberts Sr. and Nora Sturgill Roberts, Ed, as he was known to family and close friends, graduated from Virgie High School in 1958 and then entered the U.S. Army.

While stationed in Berlin, Germany, he met the former Doris (Judy) Hino and the couple married in January 1961.

The couple also were stationed in Hawaii before settling in Calumet City, Ill., where he retired from Boise Cascade.

Ed was an avid photographer, videographer and UK fan. He and his family enjoyed traveling but always made sure at least two vacations each year were to visit his parents on Roberts Mountain in Jonancy. There he could re-connect with old friends while his city-born children could climb mountains, ride a mule, sample Mammaw's fine country cooking and experience the simple life he had growing up.

After retirement he enjoyed hanging out at his son's glass business and spent hours upon hours transferring print pictures and old 8mm film onto DVDs.

He was a member of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 17, Veterans of Foreign Wars Chapter 7881, American Legion Chapter 232. He was a Kentucky Colonel and a member of the Army Historical Foundation National Museum.

Survivors include his son, Norman James Roberts Sr. of Whiting, Ind.; two grandsons, Norman James Roberts Jr. and Mark Roberts and a sister, Melster Roberts Salyer of Ypsilanti, Mich.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy; his daughter, Nancy Jane Roberts; brothers, Lewis Davis Jr., Russell Roberts and Edgil Roberts.

Funeral services were held Sept. 15 at the Old Union Regular Baptist Church in Jonancy. Burial followed in the Roberts Family Cemetery, Jonancy.

Several years ago, Ed penned his own epitaph: "We all will be laid to rest together for eternity. We have traveled many places in the world but we came home to rest."