Robert “Bob” Jackson Roberts passed peacefully in his home in Pittsburg, Kansas on March 8, 2025.
He was the son of Link Jackson and Myrtle Elizabeth (née Batchelor) Roberts, born on April 18, 1932, in Fort Smith Arkansas, and a beloved husband, father, teacher, and friend.
After graduation from Fort Smith High School in 1949, he served in the National Guard, including an assignment in Korea. He completed his service with the rank of Sergeant First Class, and received several recognitions, among them a Korean War Service Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1952. After his service, he attended Arkansas State College on the GI bill, where he met Martha Hendrix. They married in 1955. He graduated the same year with a Bachelor’s of Science in printing and journalism. He then worked as an all-around printer at the University of Arkansas until 1957, and an Assistant Professor at Arkansas State University from 1957 to 1964. He moved with his family to Pittsburg to teach and earn his master's degree from Pittsburg State University, then called Kansas State Teachers College. He continued his work at PSU until he retired as a Professor Emetrius in 1997. Throughout his career, he navigated enormous transitions in printing technology while maintaining a love of teaching and respect for his students.
Robert lived a life driven by his love of community. He served on the Redbud Trail Girl Scout Council for roughly a decade and joked that he was a “card-carrying Girl Scout”. At PSU, he was active in campus committee work and the Faculty Senate. He was a founding member of the PSU/KNEA and active in the Kansas National Education Association. He was a member of the faculty team that ultimately drove a ruling by the Supreme Court of Kansas requiring the university and the board of Regents to recognize their bargaining rights. He served on the PSU/KNEA Executive Committee, the KNEA Uniserv Southeast board, and the statewide KNEA Resolutions Commission. After forty cumulative years of teaching, Robert had an active retirement. He built houses with Habitat for Humanity of Crawford County in Pittsburg, Girard, and Arma for over a decade. He was involved with the construction of over 15 homes, and served on their board for several years. Additionally, he was a lead volunteer and served on the administrative board of the AARP, and as a member of Southeast Kansas Retired School Personnel, where he managed the printing of the annual membership booklet. Informally, he founded a social group of safety-conscious seniors who met weekly for outdoor coffee to maintain their morale and health in 2020. He loved attending sporting and music events at his alma mater and socializing at his local donut shop. He maintained a rich social life even in his old age, with neighbors, friends, and family visiting daily. He was a good man.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Martha Gaynelle (Hendrix) Roberts, and daughter, Laura Gaynelle (Roberts) Velasquez.
He is survived by his children, Mark Jackson Roberts and Melody Elizabeth Ellis, and son-in-law James Ellis. His grandchildren are Dr. Sandra Ellis (Lucas), Katherine Roberts, Elizabeth Roberts, William Jackson Roberts, Kyle Velasquez (Katie), Ellen Young (David), Anna Martin (Zachary), Sharon Kuhn (Aaron), Charlene Patterson (Edward), Neal Velasquez (Danielle) and Noah Velasquez (Brooke), and many great grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at Brenner Mortuary, 114 E 4th St, on Saturday, March 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Bob Roberts Scholarship for Printing Management at Pittsburg State University or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or sent to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th Street, Pittsburg, Kansas 66762. Friends may leave online condolences at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.
