Harold E. Roberts Jr.
Exxon systems analyst, Army veteran; memorial is on Monday
Harold E. Roberts Jr., beloved father, papa and great papa passed on peacefully March 8, 2020, at Overlook Medical Center after a brief stay. He was born Oct. 6, 1928.
Hal graduated Thomas Jefferson High School in Elizabeth, N.J., and later graduated Rutgers University. He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Devins where he rose to the rank of sergeant. It was in the Army that he earned his nickname, "Hal the Fox," as come payday, many a card game was won with his card shark skills. In our family card games, the one goal was to come together and beat Hal at all cost.
He was a lifeguard in Mountain Lakes, N.J., where he met his bride of 57 years, Mae Erskine Fowler, who predeceased him in 2010. Harold was a system analyst for Exxon for many years where he managed inventory and payroll.
Harold had one daughter, Kathryn Brady of Rumson, N.J.; son-in-law, Donald Brady; four grandchildren, Jennifer Brady and Flint Anderson of Leesburg, Va.; Emily Brady and James Rogol of Charlottesville, Va.; Michael Brady of Belleville, N.J.; Donald Brady Jr. and Natalie Ehnis of Plainsboro, N.J. He also had two great-grandchildren, Milo and Alba Anderson.
He was a deacon at The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, N.J., and enjoyed many summers in Drake's Island, Me., where four generations would gather to enjoy coastal Maine.
Viewing will be at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A family memorial will be at the The Presbyterian Church in Westfield Chapel on Monday at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Harold's honor to Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Ave., West Long Branch, N.J. 07764 or monmouth.edu/give and simply put Harold Roberts in the designation field.