Spencer E. Roberts, Ph.D

Spencer E. Roberts, Ph. D.,  age 98, Brooklyn Heights, New York died at his home at 6:30 p. m. Sunday, August 19, 2018 after an illness.

Born on April 17, 1920 in Catawissa, he was the only son of the late Wilbur H. and Sadie  E. (Johnson) Roberts. He resided in New York since 1953.

Dr. Roberts was a 1938 graduate of the former Catawissa High School and a 1942 graduate of Bucknell University, Lewisburg. He later attended Columbia University in New York City where he earned his M. A. and Ph. D. degrees in 1961.

He was stationed at the U. S. Embassy in Moscow, Soviet Union from 1948 to 1950 and at the U. S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria from 1950 to 1953.

Dr. Roberts was a Professor of Russian Language and Russian Literature at the City University of New York , from 1961 until 1985 when he retired.

He was of the Lutheran faith.

Dr. Roberts served with the U. S. Navy during World War II as a senior Lieutenant.

He was the last of his immediate family.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday at 2 p. m. in Hillside Cemetery, Catawissa, with the Rev.  Gordon E. Smith, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Espy, officiating. Military honors will be performed by the Catawissa Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market Street, Bloomsburg.