James E. Roberts

A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, he was the son of the late James Carter and Nannie Barrett Roberts. He was retired from the NC Department of Transportation and had been associated with the Biltmore Dairy and the Arcadia Dairy. He was a member of the Avery’s Creek United Methodist Church.

Mr. Roberts was an Army veteran of W.W. II, serving with the 4th Armored Division. He received the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground combat and also the Presidential Unit Citation. He was a member of the VFW Post 891. He was a member of the State Executive Committee of the NC Democratic Party, a charter member of the Skyland Fire Department, serving as former asst. chief and secretary/treasurer of the Board of Directors and a charter member of the Valley Springs Lions Club. He was a member of the Kedron Masonic Lodge #387 in Hendersonville, a 32nd degree Mason, member of the Scottish Rite and a member of the Provost Guard of the Oasis Shrine Temple in Charlotte.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Johnston Roberts; two daughters, Patricia Ann Whitson of Mt. Holly, NC and Linda Ruth Erwin of Avery’s Creek; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be conducted by the Rev. Doug Love at 2 pm Tuesday in the Avery’s Creek United Methodist Church Cemetery. Masonic graveside rites will be conducted by the Kedron Mason Lodge and military graveside rites will be conducted by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team.

The family will receive friends from 7 until 8:30 pm Monday at Groce Funeral Home on Long Shoals Road.

Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605 or to Avery’s Creek United Methodist Church Building Fund, c/o Sara McHone, treasurer, 18 Fieldstone Court, Arden, NC 28704.