Generation No. 1

1. WALLACE WATT¹ GRAY was born 1842 in Connecticut¹, and died February 1919 in Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania. He married BARBARA KLEIST/KLICE/CLICE. She was born Abt. January 02, 1843 in Orlean, New York², and died March 27, 1902 in Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania.

Notes for WALLACE WATT GRAY:

1870 Census. Connewaugo Twp. Roll 1461, Pg. 61 (Age 26)

FTW Census Index: Western PA, 1870

Children of WALLACE GRAY and BARBARA KLEIST/KLICE/CLICE are:

2. i. JOSEPH MARIE² GRAY, b. March 25, 1886, Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania; d. January 04, 1965, Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania.

ii. EDWARD E. GRAY³, b. July 18, 1883⁴; d. Erie, Pennsylvania; m. MARY CHARLOTTE GLENNON⁵, November 11, 1903, St. Josephs Church, Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania⁶; b. January 16, 1882⁶.

3. iii. MARY ELLEN GRAY, b. November 14, 1875, Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania; d. October 22, 1968, Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania.

iv. CHARLES B. GRAY⁷, b. Abt. 1889; d. 1956; m. NEVADA ELIZABETH SMEED, September 16, 1919, Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania⁸; b. Abt. 1894.

4. v. WILLIAM W. GRAY, b. December 01, 1870, Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania; d. 1959.

5. vi. CATHERINE GRAY, b. June 10, 1878, Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania; d. 1955.

vii. MONROE GRAY, b. July 18, 1867⁹; m. MARY EVA HARNER.

viii. JOHN GRAY, b. 1869⁹; d. 1872.

ix. GEORGE B GRAY, b. May 01, 1872⁹.

x. HUGH GRAY, b. January 10, 1882⁹.

Generation No. 2

2. JOSEPH MARIE² GRAY (WALLACE WATT¹) was born March 25, 1886 in Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania¹⁰, and died January 04, 1965 in Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania¹¹. He married (1) GERTRUDE M. KERVIN, daughter of FRANK KERVIN and ANNA HAFLINGER. She was born October 23, 1885 in Pennsylvania¹², and died 1943. He married (2) WYNONA STONE December 31, 1947 in Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania¹³.

Notes for JOSEPH MARIE GRAY:

OBITUARY Warren Times Mirror January 5, 1965

Joseph M. Gray, age 78, of 597 Public Way, died in Warren General Hospital on Jan. 4, 1965. Born in Warren on March 25, 1886, son of the late Wallace and Barbara Gray. Was a lifelong area resident and prior to retirement was employed as a brakeman for the Pennsylvania Railroad Co.

Mr. Gray was a member of St. Joseph's church; Warren Council, Knights of Columbus; and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.

Surviving are his wife, Wyona S. Gray; two daughters, Mrs. Raymond (Anna) Slate of Warren and Mrs. Gertrude Roberts of Dayton, Ohio; four grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one brother and one sister, Edward Gray of Erie, PA., Mrs. Mary Wilson of Warren. He was proceeded in death by two brothers and a sister, Charles B. Gray, in 1956, William W. Gray in 1959, and Mrs. Catherine Skillicorn in 1955.

He was buried in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Warren; bearers were Thomas and Fred Slate, Frederick Falkinburg, Charles and Bernard Gray, Richard Roberts.

Another article stats that on December 31, 1947, Joseph Gray married Mrs. Wynona Stone. It states that he is a brakeman and that they will make their home at 315 Penna. Ave. E.

Children of JOSEPH GRAY and GERTRUDE KERVIN are:

6. i. GERTRUDE PEARL BARBARA³ GRAY, b. November 25, 1909, Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania; d. November 15, 1993, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.

7. ii. ANNA M. GRAY, b. August 15, 1907, Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania; d. July 08, 1988.

3. MARY ELLEN² GRAY (WALLACE WATT¹)¹⁴ was born November 14, 1875 in Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania, and died October 22, 1968 in Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania. She married HARRY JEROME WILSON July 08, 1897 in Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania. He was born 1875 in Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania, and died October 1968 in Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania.

Notes for MARY ELLEN GRAY:

Could be May instead of Mary (per Michele Linse)

Children of MARY GRAY and HARRY WILSON are:

i. ALLEN FIDALIS³ WILSON.

ii. ALICE KATHERINE WILSON.

iii. HARRY CHARLES WILSON, b. 1910.

4. WILLIAM W.² GRAY (WALLACE WATT¹)¹⁴ was born December 01, 1870 in Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania¹⁵, and died 1959. He married ELIZABETH BERTHA PRECHURE September 21, 1893 in St. Josephs Church, Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania¹⁶. She was born February 01, 1873¹⁶, and died 1958.

Notes for WILLIAM W. GRAY:

Obituary Warren Times Mirror May 29, 1959

William Wallace Gray, 89 year old former resident of 25 Elm street, Warren, died at 3:45 pm Wednesday in St. Mary's Home in Erie, where he had lived for the past two years.

Mr. Gray was born in Warren December 1, 1870 and had spent most of his lifetime here. In his youth, he attended St. Joseph's parochial school, and had been a member of St. Joseph's parish most of his life.

Prior to his retirement in 1938, he had been employed as a clerk-cashier for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for 49 years, and was a member of Railroad Clerks. He was also a member of the Sacred Hearts League and of Warren Grange.

Surviving are three sons, Paul B. Gray, Piqua, OH; Wallace W. Gray, Portsmouth, VA; and Louis Gray, Crockett, CA; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; two brothers and one sister, Joseph Gray and Mrs. Mary Wilson, Warren; and Edward Gray, Erie; also a number of nieces and nephews. His wife, Elizabeth Prechure Gray, preceded him in death in 1958; a daughter, Esterh M. Matthews, in 1954; also four brothers and one sister.

Funeral services will be held at St. Joseph's church at 11:30 am Monday with interment following in St. Joseph's cemetery.

Obituary Warren Times Mirror June 2, 1959

Funeral services were held at St. Joseph's church here at 11:30 am Monday for William Wallace Gray, former resident of 25 Elm street, who died in St. Mary's Home in Erie last Thursday. Father Rocco Tito, assistant pastor, celebrated the requiem high mass adn the following grandsons were bearers for interment in St. Joseph's cemetery: Allen, Eugene, and Harry Wilson, Vincent, James, and Paul Gray, Jr.

Attending from far away were Edward Gray, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. James Gray, Mr.s and Mrs. Paul W. Gray, Erie; Mrs. Louise Acks, Cleveland, OH; Wallace Gray, Portsmouth, VA; Paul B. Gray, Piqua, OH; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Gray, Crockett, CA.

Children of WILLIAM GRAY and ELIZABETH PRECHURE are:

8. i. PAUL B.³ GRAY.

ii. WALLACE W. GRAY.

iii. LOUIS GRAY.

iv. ESTHER GRAY, d. 1954; m. ?? MATTHEWS.

5. CATHERINE² GRAY (WALLACE WATT¹)¹⁷ was born June 10, 1878 in Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania¹⁸, and died 1955. She married UNKNOWN SKILLICORN.

Child of CATHERINE GRAY and UNKNOWN SKILLICORN is:

i. JOSEPH GRAY³ SKILLICORN.

Generation No. 3

6. GERTRUDE PEARL BARBARA³ GRAY (JOSEPH MARIE², WALLACE WATT¹) was born November 25, 1909 in Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania¹⁹, and died November 15, 1993 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio¹⁹. She married CARL VARNER ROBERTS January 26, 1935 in Warren, Warren Co., PA²⁰, son of RICHARD ROBERTS and MARTHA HAYDEN. He was born May 27, 1911 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana²¹, and died February 1980 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio²¹.

Notes for GERTRUDE PEARL BARBARA GRAY:

Warren High School 1928 Dragon Year Book

"This small, dark-complected young lady has proved to be very versatile in many activities, especially dramatics. Not only this, but she is a very capable student, we expect much of her in the future."

Girls Athletic Association (1,2,3,4); Spanish Club (3); Dramatic Club (2,3,4); "Her Aunt from California" (4); Christmas Carols (3); Junior Chamber of Commerce (3,4); "Diogenes Looks for a Secretary" (4); "Seven Keys to Baldpate" (4)

OBITUARY

ROBERTS, Gertrude P., age 83, of Dayton, died Monday, November 15, 1993. She was a retired secretary from Parker Advertising after 37 years of service and a member of American Business Womens Association. Survived by her son & daughter-in-law, Richard A & Carol Roberts, Englewood; grandchildren, Ann Roberts & husband, John Smith; Randy Roberts & wife, Michele; Traci Roberts, Jennifer & Jill Breidenbach; great grandchildren, Matthew Roberts, Jason & Sydney Lewis; a niece, Sally Falkinburg & Nephew Tom Slate. Mass of Christian Burial will be said 9:30 am Wednesday at Maria Joseph Living Care Center Chapel, 4830 Salem Ave. Fr. John Byrne officiating. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday at Baker-Hazel Funeral Home, 5555 Philadelphia Dr. at N. Main St.

Notes for CARL VARNER ROBERTS:

A MAN WHO COULDN'T STOP WRITING (Laurence S. Newman Jr. Associate Editor of The Journal Herald)

For more than four decades Carl V. Roberts has been a tough, dedicated Dayton newspaperman.

As a Daily News reporter he pursued the news one way - relentlessly. He never knew another way. As reporter and editor he wrote prolifically. Even in retirement it was impossible to separate the man from his typewriter.

As city editor for 11 years he was a throwback to Front Page, an old-style fighter who went to war each day with a dozen opponents. He believe his paper was obliged to dig into local news, to keep public officials honest, to follow stories tenaciously. That was the way to distinguish a newspaper and make it competitive.

In a day when a $2.50 raise was something to shout about, Roberts had a strange but talented crew.

He had an old-timer who swore he'd fill the paper with prize winners if only he could haunt Dayton's bars, with an unlimited expense account.

He had a harum-scarum police reporter who wrote a story one day that called two men, 32 and 34, middle aged. Roberts, then in his late 30s, protested to the entire newsroom. What the devil, he demanded, did that make him?

He had reporters who, just for fun, would bedevil a colleague rushing in on deadline by swiping the platen from his typewriter.

But despite their sense of independence, they seldom ignored an unending flow of CVR memos suggesting stories and features. They wouldn't dare.

This is the way Roberts helped put out a daily miracle - a paper that was competitive.

As uncompromising as he was on reporters, he was tougher on news editors who questioned stories he'd edited and approved. Once he had passed them, he felt, they deserved to run. Verbatim. Often on Page One.

Away from the paper Roberts was involved in a variety of community activities - as a long-time member and 15-handicap golfer at Walnut Grove, as a member of Box 21, as chairman of the Montgomery County building commission which directed construction of the County Administration building in the 1960s.

For years Roberts looked forward to a time he could play golf daily. In retirement he just might return to the days when he was a scratch player. It was unlikely, of course, but it was a goal.

But within months of his retirement, he lost his left leg. Two bypass operations failed to solve a circulation problem, and it had to come off.

He never did get out on the course, except in a cart to accompany his wife Ginny.

But he stayed active - as a weekly columnist and as interim director of the historical society.

It was an ordeal making it to his second-floor office, but he did it daily, in pain.

Then he fell and fractured a hip. And he injured his other leg.

Today, at 68, CVR is waging a lonely battle at Miami Valley Hospital, in Room 467B. He's been there six weeks, with another leg threatened. As if that weren't enough, there are abdominal complications.

Progress these days is measured in a few bits of solid food or a morning when he shaves.

Only family members can visit.

As tough as he still is, CVR could use a remembrance or two. It would be a nice touch to show him his community still cares. For old time's sake.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPING - GOES TO DAYTON (January 2, 1934)

Carl V. Roberts left Warren on Monday afternoon for Dayton, O., where he is now permanently located in the Wirephoto department of the Associated Press, with headquarters at the Daily News building. Mr. Roberts has been an employee of the Associated Press for the last year and was in charge of the installation and service for the recent change made in the teletype printer systems of papers served by the Associated Press in Warren, Meadville, Oil City, Bradford and points in the southern and eastern part of the state.

Chronical Biography by Carl V. Roberts

January 1918:

Entered Centennial grade school, Evansville, IN

Active in school band. (Instruments trombone, trumpet, and drum)

Worked as a caddy on local golf course after school and during summer vacation.

Became member of Boy Scouts of America

September 1925:

Entered Francis Joseph Reitz high school, Evansville, IN.

High school courses included: algebra, geometry, physics, general science, Latin, English, journalism, civics and all history courses offered in the curriculum

Was business manager and chief feature writer on high school paper.

Wrote short story selected as best in school-wide competition.

Admitted to National High School Honorary Journalistic Society

Member football and track squads

Became Eagle scout and subsequently Assistant Scoutmaster in Boy Scouts of America

Passed Red Cross life-saving examination

Continued to work afternoons as golf caddy and evenings as usher in neighborhood theater, later assistant manager of the theater.

June 1928:

Was graduated from Francis Joseph Reitz high school, Evansville, IN in upper third of class and with honor citation for journalistic achievements, completing four-year course in three years.

June 1928:

Entered the employee of the American Telephone and Telegraph Co., at Evansville, IN., three days after graduation from high school. Accepted position as Transmission Man under J.E. Neighbors, Chief Testboard Man (F.H. Harris, Indianapolis, IN, District Plant Superintendent.)

Received training in operation and maintenance teletype equipment, and long lines telephone and telegraph equipment.

Learned rudiments of Morse telegraphy on own time.

Received training in company "out of hours" course B-3, Advanced Electricity

In autumn of 1928 was appointed Office Safety Supervisor and conducted "out of hours" classes in elementary and advanced First Aid.

Conducted "out of hours" course A-3, Elements of Electricity.

Duties at Evansville included testing and maintenance of telephone repeater equipment, central office power plant and teletype equipment.

August 1930:

Transferred to Kokomo, IN, office as Equipment Attendant under local supervision of H.A. Vest.

Made all acceptance tests on equipment installed in newly erected office and assisted in "switch over" operation when new office installation was completed.

In charge of office during vacation period.

December 1930:

Transferred to Terre Haute, IN, as Equipment Attendant, under local supervision of H. M. Wilde, Chief Equipment Man.

Received "out of hours" course B-1, Company Organization.

Duties included the following, in the order of assumption of those duties: (1) Installation of Morse and teletype equipment; (2) Testing and maintenance of telephone, telegraph, teletype equipment, including cross-connections, repeaters, relays, meters, motors, generators and storage batteries; (3) Assumed responsibility for maintenance of all power plant maintenance; (4) Assumed responsibility for all power plant maintenance and supervisory detail, including, all test and maintenance reports, time studies, work reports, parts replacement and procurement, salvage, performance data procurement, etc.

May 1933:

Left employee of A.T.&T. Co., under general force reduction based on seniority and dependency.

AT&T Earnings (approximate) $1100 - 2100 per year.

January 15, 1934

Employed by W.J. McCambridge, Assistant General Manager of The Associated Press, as teletype mechanic in New York rebuild shop under office supervision of Henry Elling.

Rebuilt teletype equipment, later transferred to table-wiring department, subsequently handled table-wiring instruction and inspection.

June 1934

Transferred to Knoxville, Tenn., as Field Mechanic, under supervision of W. E. McLeod, Traffic Department Representative for state of Tennessee.

Duties included handling of all bureau traffic matters, including supervision of bureau operation and maintenance. Represented the AP in negotiations with publishers in Eastern Tennessee area for conversion of maintenance program to local basis; trained local mechanics at all Eastern Tennessee points; made periodic maintenance and inspection trips to those points.

September 1934:

Recalled to New York for training in operation and maintenance of Wirephoto (wire picture transmission) equipment. Harold Carlson, instructor.

November 1934:

Transferred to Pennsylvania on emergency assignment as the AP prepared to take over maintenance of its teletype equipment in that state.

Handled conversion negotiations with publishers in 22 cities; installed all AP equipment in those cities; trained local mechanics, and responded to emergency maintenance calls.

Jan. 1, 1935

Transferred to Dayton, OH, as Wirephoto Technician, as the AP opened Writephoto station at Dayton Daily News. (Under supervision of D.A. Washington, Wirephoto Technician, locally.)

Duties included operation and maintenance of Wirephoto equipment and darkroom facilities, making equipment tests, and training Wirephoto Attendants.

August 1938

Traffic Engineer in sole charge of Wirephoto station, D.A. Washington remaining in charge of all teletype equipment. Duties - operation, maintenance, supervision.

January 1939

Assumed charge of all Wirephoto and teletype service in Dayton on retirement of D.A. Washington. (State Supervisor - J.M. Pfadt, Traffic Bureau Chief, Columbus, OH.)

Duties - maintenance and supervision.

Rebuilt all teletype equipment in Dayton and re-wired tables and offices at News station in general rehabilitation program.

January 1940

Returned to maintenance duties as The Associated Press signed contract with Commercial Telegraphers Union, containing seniority clause. As youngest Traffic Engineer in organization, was displaced by R.J. Smith of Milwaukee, Wis., who "bid" on and obtained the post.

April 1940

Accepted temporary post as Night Telegraph Editor of Dayton Daily News, retaining Associated Press post as well for six months.

October 1940 - July 1942:

Resigned from the Associated Press

A.P. Earnings (approximate) $1560 - 2872 per year.

Registered in first selective service registration; classified "3-A" with local order number 3592 in Dayton board No. 4.

Accepted permanent post with Dayton Daily News as a reporter.

In addition to occasional spot news photography (Speed Graphic) illustrated my written features for a time. Assigned to editorial work exclusively, duties in order of their assignment have been: (1) general reporting, interviews, and features; (2) Police reporter and feature writer; (3) Alternating as assistant on city and telegraph desks and feature writer (present duties.)

Dayton Daily News Earnings (approximate) $1800 - 2300 per year.

July 1942 - January 1946 - US Army Air Force:

Com missed second lieutenant July 1942. In publications work stateside throughout war. Discharged Major January 1946.

April 1946 - November 1946 - R.L. Polk & Co., Detroit Mich.:

Edited monthly customer-service type farm magazine; handled some other creative work for direct mail advertising. Resigned to return to newspaper field.

November 1946 - November 1947 - Self-Employed:

Started weekly suburban newspaper, contracting for composition and printing. Rising production costs cut deeply into increased advertising revenue accruing from steady increase in paid circulation. Returned to News after one year - continuing to publish my newspaper for two years before I folded it.

November 1947 - Present - Dayton Daily News:

On return to News in November, 1947, went on rim - worked telegraph editor's day off; occasionally subbed for news editor.

Early in 1948 I returned to city staff - worked roving-investigative assignment except for relieving assistant city editor one day a week, news editor occasionally.

In summer of 1949 I assumed assistant city editor's status but limited my desk work to relieving city editor in his absences, occasionally subbing for news editor. Normally had four days a week for my general assignment work. That work then (I now two men for it) was basically self-assigned, operating on tips from beats and my own sources. In addition, however, I handled the civic campaigns and other policy type stories. I also covered major spot stories-alone or sometimes topping a multiple reporter break. In the spot category were Senate crime hearings at Cleveland, major fires, air crashes, murder trials and the like. I covered the state legislature during its biennial session.

In July 1951, I became city editor, which post I now hold. I write a Sunday news analysis-review column; contribute an occasional editorial. I make up my own local news page; crop and size my own art; plan, assign, make initial selection an collaborate on layout for local picture story type picture page art. I am familiar with cameras and darkroom processes; have adequate working knowledge of composition and other mechanical processes.

Hobbies

Photography is principal hobby. In addition to occasional press shot and commercial work, began experimenting with 35 mm equipment in 1934. Now use Speed Graphic cameras - 4x5 with 6 inch Goers-Dogmar f4.5 lens; 4x5 with 6.5 inch Jos. Schneider f3.5 lens) - with emphasis on action photography and portrait studies.

Other hobbies are Gardening and Criminology

Sports hobbies include: Golf (75-85)

Swimming (proficient)

Pistol Shooting (recently acquired and limited to occasional practice sessions

with police officers on Dayton police range.)

Military Record and Report of Separation Certificate of Service

Organization: 4020th Army Air Force Base Unit, Wright Field, OH

Date of Relief from Active Duty: 3 May 46

Place of Separation: Separation Base, Patterson Field OH

Date of Entry on Active Duty: 31 July 1942

Military Occupational Specialty: Administrative Officer (2120) Publications Officer (5400)

Decorations and Citations: World War II Victory Medal per WD Cir 326 25 Oct 45

American Theatre Ribbon per WD Cir 326 25 Oct 45

Service Schools Attended: Admin Crse Patterson Field Ohio 24 Aug 42

Reason and Authority for Separation: RR 1-5 and TWX CGofAAF WARX 90158 26 Dec 1945

Carl V. Roberts 0 911 676 Major

Obituary

ROBERTS, Carl V., age 68, of 1705 Marilyn Ave., Kettering, passed away Monday at Miami Valley Hospital. Survived by his wife, Ginny, 1 son, Rick Roberts of Englewood, 3 grandchildren, Ann, Randy, and Traci, 1 nephew, Walter Roberts of Evansville, Ind. He retired from Dayton Newspapers Inc. He was a member of Walnut Grove Country Club, Eagles No 321, Box 21, US Golf Association, Interim Director of Montgomery County Historical Society, Past Chairman of Montgomery Building Commission and Author of 200 Years of Progress Dayton and Miami Valley. He was a Major serving with the US Air Force during World War II. Funeral services 10:00 am Thursday, Tobias Funeral Home, Beavercreek Chapel, 3970 Dayton Xenia Rd. at Grange Hall. Interment Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home 4 to 9 PM Wednesday.

Newspaper Article: With Daily News since 1940 Journalist Roberts' funeral Thursday

Funeral services for Carl V. Roberts, a Dayton journalist for more than 35 years, are set for 10 A.M. Thursday at Tobias' Beavercreek Chapel, 3970 Dayton-Xenia Road.

Mr. Roberts, 68, died about 12:15 am yesterday at Miami Valley Hospital.

He had been hospitalized since early January with circulatory and stomach problems. His left leg had been amputated in 1976 because of similar circulation problems.

After working several years for the Associated Press, Mr. Roberts joined the Dayton Daily News full time in 1940, after working part-time there for 2.5 years. He is remembered as a fair but tough newspaperman.

"Carl's concern for the reader and the people we write about had a major impact on my own standards," said Joe Fenley, Daily News managing editor.

Jack M. Osler, editor of the News' Leisure magazine and a 30-year friend of Mr. Roberts, called him "one of the best...a newspaperman through and through." He noted that Mr. Roberts was still writing a weekly newspaper column until late last month -- even though he had retired in 1976.

Mr. Roberts, a native of Evansville, Ind., served as city editor of the Daily News between 1951 and 1962. After becoming a reporter again, he took over the paper's county coverage and became known as "the fourth county commissioner."

A reporting colleague remembers Mr. Roberts, seated at the press table, occasionally being consulted by county commissioners during meetings.

"He was an excellent, knowledgeable man. Very much respected for his very wide ranging abilities," said Commissioner Charles Lewis.

Mr. Roberts once served in a non-paying position as head of a Montgomery County building commission which supervised the $11-million construction project that included the county administration building, the children services administration building, two schools for retarded children, and two residential treatment centers.

He spent his last year with the paper preparing a bicentennial edition devoted to the history of the Miami Valley. He later used this as the basis of a book, 200 Years of Progress: A History of Dayton and the Miami Valley.

In 1977, he was named interim director of the Montgomery County Historical Society and was elected treasurer of the board of directors the following year.

An avid golfer, Mr. Roberts was past president of the Walnut Grove Country Club. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and he was a major when discharged.

Mr. Roberts, who lived at 1705 Marilyn Ave., Kettering is survived by his wife, Virginia; a son, Richard A., of Englewood; and three grandchildren.

Visitation is tomorrow at Tobias in Beavercreek from 4 PM to 9 PM.

Newspaper Article: Carl V. Roberts A newsman of intense, caring standards (Arnold Rosenfeld, Editor of The Daily News)

There's an old newspaper legend -- I don't know whether it's true or not, but it ought to be -- that the late H.L. Mencken left a sealed letter in a safe at the Baltimore Sun papers, where he had labored long and lovingly, to be opened only when he died.

All of that happened, and when an editor opened the envelope, he found the briefest of notes. "Don't," Mencken had written, "overplay it."

Carl V. Roberts, whose standards for this newspaper were high and stringent, would have agreed. Carl died early Monday morning in Miami Valley Hospital. He was 68, and he had fought a long and hard fight against a mounting array of physical problems over the past several years. His stamina amazed his friends.

Carl had been city editor, reporter, copy editor and columnist for The Dayton Daily News. He had set many of the standards to which he held us.

I knew Carl only for the last 10 years. You can hear a lot of stories about the younger Carl Roberts in our newsroom. Some have passed into legend. Most, I suppose, are true. He was a city editor in the grand tradition -- demanding, curious, infuriating, caring.

I knew him at a later time, and we had a different kind of relationship. It always struck me that Carl was a man who had been through the fire and passions and intensities of early life, and had emerged on the other side wiser, more solid, with a painfully-earned tolerance and understanding for life and its foibles. His toughness he reserved for himself.

His last assignment here was to put together our Bicentennial edition, to write and edit a historic account of the history of the Miami Valley. A cub reporter could not have brought more energy and enthusiasm to the project. Carl gave it the extra dimensions of love and authenticity. My most vivid recollections of that year-long assignment are of Carl's frequent visits in my office to share some valued nugget of information he had carefully mined from the record.

Even then Carl was just beginning to suffer some of the physical problems and pain that would become his life. He never let it get in his way. He was going to darned well finish that assignment. He did.

When Carl retired three years ago, we gave him a set of golf clubs. Unfortunately, there would be no more long, green fairways. He suffered inexplicable circulation problems, which finally required the removal of a leg.

Carl bounced back. He became acting director of the Montgomery County Historical Society, then devoted his energies to the weekly column he did for us. It was a lovely piece of work, authentic and very much a part of this place. He loved doing it, and he continued to the end. His last column, written in January from his hospital bed and dictated to his wife Ginny, is a small monument to his courage and need to get the job done.

Carl never complained. When he would come up here on his increasingly infrequent visits, he would join in kidding about his now non-existent golf game and the metal walker he was forced to use in order to get around. It sounds awful, but it is the kind of stuff newspaper people do instead of crying.

Carl went into the hospital long weeks ago, his problems deepening by the day. His friends watched helplessly. He had many friends, and he had a decent and honorable impact on his time and his place.

Over the years, this newspaper asked a lot of Carl Roberts. Big things or little, he did them all with the same care and intensity. He was a pro.

Newspaper Article: Longtime newspaperman Carl V. Roberts dies at 68

Carl V. Roberts, veteran newsman and former city editor of The Dayton Daily News, died at 12:15 am today following a lengthy illness. He was 68.

Mr. Roberts was a copy editor when he retired from the Daily News in 1976 and continued to contribute a weekly column to the paper until his death.

He was a former chairman of the Montgomery County Building Commission and he was a historian of the Miami Valley area.

In 37 years of newspaper work for the Daily News before retiring, he had covered all major news beats. He was remembered by a generation of Daily News reporters as a rewarding tutor with exacting standards while city editor from 1951 to 1962.

In 1962, Mr. Roberts left the city editor's post. After a short stint as a special writer, he began covering Montgomery County government. His probing curiosity and mastery of detail transformed the assignment.

"Instead of asking questions, he was soon answering them," recalled County Commission President Charles M. Lewis, who served his first term in the 1960s. Part-time commissioners frequently turned to him for legal evaluations, and precedents. Frustrated news competitors began calling Mr. Roberts "the fourth county commissioner."

Commissioners at one point asked Mr. Roberts to accept appointment as county administrator. He refused. But he did accept an unsalaried post as a member of the County Building Commission that oversaw some $15 million in capital improvements, including the 13-story county administration building. Mr. Roberts was chairman when he resigned from the building commission in 1969.

His last assignment for the Daily News was preparation of a 1976 Bicentennial edition. It related the history of the Miami Valley. In 1978, he published his own history of the valley, 200 Years of Progress.

An outgoing, vigorous man, Mr. Roberts was an avid golfer. Circulatory problems that led to amputation of his left leg shortly after his retirement in 1976 halted this hobby.

But in 1977, he accepted a temporary appointment as director of the Montgomery County Historical Society. His offices were on the second floor of the ancient "Old Courthouse" at Third and Main streets. Throughout the severe 1977-1978 winter, Mr. Roberts hobbled painfully up the often icy outside steps and the winding inside staircases to reach his post.

He resigned as director in 1978, but was elected treasurer of the board of directors.

Charles E. Glover, president of Cox Enterprises, which owns the Daily News and other Cox newspapers said:

"Carl Roberts was my city editor for seven stimulating years. I think of him every time I watch Lou Grant."

"He had a pure appreciation of what good newspapering is all about -- honesty, fairness, and integrity. He pursued the news with a passion, and Lord help the poor reporter who didn't share Carl's fervor for objectivity and thoroughness. I owe him a great deal."

Born May 27, 1911, in Evansville, Ind., Mr. Roberts began as a part-time newsman for the Evansville Courier while in high school. Later, he worked for the Associated Press in New York, and was in charge of the Dayton AP operation until he resigned to join the Daily News in 1939.

In 1942, Mr. Roberts entered the Air Force as a lieutenant. He was discharged as a major at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1946, and returned to the Daily News as a reporter.

In ensuing years, Mr. Roberts covered the Ohio legislature and such headline stories as the Kefauver Crime Committee hearings of 1951.

Mr. Roberts is a former president of Walnut Hills Country Club, and lived at 1705 Marilyn Ave., Kettering.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, and his son by a previous marriage, Richard A. Roberts, of Randolph Twp.

Child of GERTRUDE GRAY and CARL ROBERTS is:

9. i. RICHARD ALLEN⁴ ROBERTS, b. May 25, 1936, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.

7. ANNA M.³ GRAY (JOSEPH MARIE², WALLACE WATT¹) was born August 15, 1907 in Warren, Warren Co., Pennsylvania, and died July 08, 1988. She married RAYMOND J. SLATE, JR., son of RAYMOND J. SLATE, SR..

Notes for ANNA M. GRAY:

Obituary

Age 80, Warren. Died July 8, 1988 at Warren Manor. Born Aug. 15, 1907 in Warren, Daughter of the late Joseph M. and Gertrude Kervin Gray. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and married Raymond J. Slate on September 6, 1934 in Dunkirk, NY.

Surviving are a daughter, Sally Falkinburg; a son, Thomas Slate; a sister, Gertrude Roberts; nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband; a son, James G. Slate. Donald E. Lewis Funeral home, St. Joseph Church, Burial in St. Joseph cemetery.

Children of ANNA GRAY and RAYMOND SLATE are:

10. i. JAMES⁴ SLATE, b. July 09, 1935, Dunkirk, New York; d. July 12, 1984, Columbus, Indiana.

11. ii. SALLY SLATE.

iii. TOM SLATE.

8. PAUL B.³ GRAY (WILLIAM W.², WALLACE WATT¹)

Child of PAUL B. GRAY is:

i. PAUL⁴ GRAY, JR..

Generation No. 4

9. RICHARD ALLEN⁴ ROBERTS (GERTRUDE PEARL BARBARA³ GRAY, JOSEPH MARIE², WALLACE WATT¹) was born May 25, 1936 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He married (1) ALISON ANN HOLMES September 22, 1959 in Richmond, Wayne, Co., Indiana, daughter of CHESTER HOLMES and EVELYNE STEWART. She was born November 11, 1939 in Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana. He married (2) CAROL A. DEITZ November 1984, daughter of DIETZ and JUNE. She was born January 10.

Children of RICHARD ROBERTS and ALISON HOLMES are:

i. ANN RAE⁵ ROBERTS, b. March 26, 1960, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio; m. (1) JAMES MATTHEW THOMPSON, March 28, 1981, Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio; m. (2) JOHN MARK SMITH, August 31, 1985, Fairborn, Greene Co., Ohio; b. May 20, 1959, Goldsboro, North Carolina.

12. ii. RANDALL SCOTT ROBERTS, b. September 24, 1961, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.

13. iii. TRACI LYNN ROBERTS, b. March 20, 1964, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.

10. JAMES⁴ SLATE (ANNA M.³ GRAY, JOSEPH MARIE², WALLACE WATT¹) was born July 09, 1935 in Dunkirk, New York²², and died July 12, 1984 in Columbus, Indiana. He married DOROTHY.

Notes for JAMES SLATE:

Obituary

Son of Raymond J. and Anna M. Gray Slate. U.S. Army veteran; a retired shipping supervisor for Cocco Industries, retiring 2 years ago. Attended Clarion State College. A member of St. Bartholomew Roman Catholic Church and the American Legion, Post No. 24, Columbus, Ind.

Survivors: mother, Anna M. Slate, Warren; his wife, Dorothy; two sons, David and Mark; two daughters, Lisa and Becky Johnson, all at home; three grandchildren; a brother, Thomas Slate, Erie; a sister, Sally Falkinburg.

Children of JAMES SLATE and DOROTHY are:

i. DAVID⁵ SLATE.

ii. MARK SLATE.

iii. LISA SLATE.

iv. BECKY SLATE, m. ?? JOHNSON.

11. SALLY⁴ SLATE (ANNA M.³ GRAY, JOSEPH MARIE², WALLACE WATT¹) She married FREDRICK J. FALKINBURG, son of WALLACE FALKINBURG.

Children of SALLY SLATE and FREDRICK FALKINBURG are:

i. BRIDGET⁵ FALKINBURG.

ii. BETH ANN FALKINBURG, b. August 26, 1961; d. August 26, 1961, Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania²³.

Generation No. 5

12. RANDALL SCOTT⁵ ROBERTS (RICHARD ALLEN⁴, GERTRUDE PEARL BARBARA³ GRAY, JOSEPH MARIE², WALLACE WATT¹) was born September 24, 1961 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He married MICHELE HOLLIDAY March 23, 1985 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. She was born September 25, 1964 in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio.

Child of RANDALL ROBERTS and MICHELE HOLLIDAY is:

i. MATTHEW COLSON⁶ ROBERTS, b. December 1987, Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio.

13. TRACI LYNN⁵ ROBERTS (RICHARD ALLEN⁴, GERTRUDE PEARL BARBARA³ GRAY, JOSEPH MARIE², WALLACE WATT¹) was born March 20, 1964 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. She met JAY LEWIS.

Children of TRACI ROBERTS and JAY LEWIS are:

i. JASON COLBY⁶ LEWIS, b. July 27, 1989, Los Angeles, CA.

ii. SYDNEY ANN LEWIS, b. September 30, 1990, Tulsa, Tulsa Co., Oklahoma.

Endnotes

1. Judith Wilson.

2. Marriage Application for Joseph and Wynona Stone, States that Barbara Klice was born in Allegheny, NY.

3. Joseph M. Gray Obituary.

4. Warren County Marriage License Docket, Book 5, Page 67.

5. Michele Linse.

6. Warren County Marriage License Docket, Book 5, Page 67.

7. Joseph M. Gray Obituary.

8. Warren County Marriage License Docket, Book 9, Page 428.

9. Michele Linse.

10. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from A through L, Date of Import: Jun 21, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.111.4.90258.170

11. Obituary.

12. 1880 Soundex (Pennsylvania).

13. Newspaper Article.

14. Joseph M. Gray Obituary.

15. Warren County Marriage License Docket, Page 14 Column 10.

16. Warren County Marriage License Docket, Book 3, Page 24.

17. Joseph M. Gray Obituary.

18. Catherine Skillicorn Obiturary.

19. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from M through Z, Date of Import: Jun 21, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.112.4.56924.40

20. Warren County Marriage License Docket, Book 16, Page 224.

21. Brøderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2, Ed. 4, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Social Security Death Index, Surnames from M through Z, Date of Import: Jun 21, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.112.4.56823.197

22. Telegram from Ray to Mr. & Mrs. CV Roberts

23. Obituary.

.