Wellsville, NY - John J. Robarts, 79, of 85 Early Street died at home on Wednesday, December 28, 2011surrounded by his family. He was born May 10, 1932 in Wellsville the son of the late Harrison Ross and Gay (Holder) Robarts. On August 19, 1978 at the Christian Temple in Wellsville he married Martha Kemp who survives.
John was a graduate of Wellsville High School and attended Alfred University. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army during the Korean War; attaining the rank of Sergeant 1st Class. He was employed at the former Empire Gas Company, Cannon's Clothing Store and Wellsville Realty. He later purchased Wellsville Realty and after a name change, he operated Robarts Realty for many years until his recent retirement. For many years he was also employed as a gas station attendant and sold tickets at Tuller Field for the Pony League baseball games. He was a former high school basketball referee and a member a member of the I.A.A.B.O. Board of Basketball Officials. He was a past president of the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce, former director of the Wellsville United Fund and had served on the Wellsville Water and Light Board. He was a member of the Elks Lodge # 1495, the Morrison Hayes Post 702 American Legion, Frank B. Church Post # 2530 VFW and the Western Steuben-Allegany Association of Realtors.
Surviving in addition to his wife, is a son, Ross (Brenda) Robarts of Wellsville, a daughter, Barbara Ceglia of Houston, TX, four step-children, Elizabeth (Damon) Lawrence, Cathy (Chris) Weinman, Kenneth Kemp and Daniel Kemp, five grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, a sister, Roxanne Harris of Glen Mills, PA, his former wife Bette Robarts of Wellsville as well as several several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two half -brothers, Gene Robarts and Harrison "Bud" Robarts.
Friends are invited to call on Monday, January 2, 2012 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. A memorial service will follow visitation on Monday at 7:30 pm in the Funeral Home with Rev. Ralph Eastlack presiding. Interment with Military honors will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to the David A. Howe Public Library. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.
We are so very sorry to hear of John's passing. He was a wonderful, kind, polite, debonair man, who always had a ready smile and never forgot to ask after family members when he met you on the street. We have missed him since he's been ill and while he was recovering, and will remember him with great fondness, always. Our thoughts and prayers are with Martha and the rest of John's family.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and prayers are with you, Martha, as well as the rest of the family, that you find peace and comfort knowing how much John loved you all. I have beautiful memories of his gentleness and kindness, of his hearty laugh and insisting on "taking the Vandermark Road!"
ReplyDeleteTrish Hennessy
John always had a cheery "good morning" for everyone. He was a great guy!
ReplyDeleteAlthough it's been many, many years since I (or members of my family) have seen John, we all remember how cheerful and kind he always was. It was always a pleasure to see him around Wellsville. Our thoughts & prayers are w/ you.
ReplyDeleteWords alone can not express our condolencees. Please know in my dad's absence of expression, we are truly sorry for your loss. May he Rest In Peace. The family of Jack Colligan
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts and prayers are with you Martha.
ReplyDeleteJohn was of the finest persons I've ever known.
Ward Hopkins
I wanted to offer my condolences for the loss of John. I have such nice memories of the family and wanted you to know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteDorothy Thomas
Cheyenne, Wyoming
I wanted to offer my condolences for the loss of John. I have wonderful memories of the family and wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteDorothy Thomas
Wyoming
My prayers are with you all at this time. John was so special to Tom & I and we enjoyed our yearly genealogy visits with you and have many special memories and pictures to remember him.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to the family as I post a short tribute to my greatest friend John, who has gone on. But in so doing he has left us, me, his friends and his family, gifts. They are special and different for each of us. They are the memories that will be with us all our days. And for his family, he has left a great gift, and that is of his reputation. They can certainly, and have every right, to be proud of this man’s life. For I think his character, as well as his integrity, was above reproach. And this makes a great man.
ReplyDeleteMy deepest sympathy to John's family, and many friends. You couldn't find a finer friend or gentleman...someone who came into our lives and left us better, because he was there. Kindness and compassion were more than words to John. They were how you live your life.Though he will forever be in my heart, I will greatly miss him and his wonderful spirit.
ReplyDeleteVery saddened to learn that John had passed away recently. I have fond memories of John, including his officiating basketball games we played in as high schoolers, working at Cannon's with my older brother Bill, and helping us settle my dad's estate with the sale of our family homestead at 342 W. State St. John was always cheerful and upbeat and helpful to others. My condolences to John's family.
ReplyDeleteTom Kelsey
Concord, NH
My deepest condolences go out to John's family. I know he will be missed.
ReplyDeletecarla orosz
I was saddened to hear of John's passing. We were friends even before high school and graduated together in 1950 from WCS. He was truly a good person who treated everyone with the utmost respect. I will always remember the little grin he would give me whenever I saw him on one of my visits back to Wellsville. Farewell old friend. Bob Haas, Ramona, CA
ReplyDeleteOur condolences to John's family.
ReplyDeleteTom and Sonoma Hancock
Growing up in Wellsville in the 60s and 70s and visiting often later on as a friend of the family, I always knew John as one of the nicest men in town. What I remember as exceptional about John was the special smile, the social ease which never wavered and the ability to give you his full attention no matter what else might have been on his mind. Still don't know how he did it. John was a man of integrity, and very funny too, and I was glad to have known him.
ReplyDeleteRick DelVecchio
Oakland CA
We were very sorry to hear about John. He was a wonderful person. Even though we hadn't seen John for a number of years, we never forgot him.
ReplyDelete