Richard "Dick" Roberts

Richard "Dick" Roberts of Lafayette passed away peacefully on September 10, 2024, at the age of 93. He was born April 29, 1931 to Rodney and Clara Roberts of Mulberry, Indiana. He graduated from Dayton High School where he was a standout basketball player and earned a full scholarship to Purdue University, which he later declined. He then went on to proudly serve two years in the U.S. Army while stationed in Japan.
Upon his return, Dick pursued an education in accounting at Indiana Business School, which led him to a successful early career in the life insurance industry. While working in insurance, Dick took a leap of faith and joined his three brothers in purchasing two restaurants, the Mulberry Restaurant and Bar and the Michigantown Bar and Grill. It was in the restaurant industry that Dick found his passion, and in 1975 he went out on his own and purchased The Americus Restaurant, which he owned for 45 years. Through it all, Dick was a friend to his team, his customers and anyone who walked in the door. He sold the restaurant to his nephew in 2022.
In 1955, Dick married Marilyn (Crum). They celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary together last month. They had two children, Craig Roberts (1958-1982) and Paula Forsyth of Chicago and two grandchildren, Marcelle Forsyth of NYC and Grant Forsyth (Leah) of Chicago. Dick loved his family and cherished the time they spent together during annual spring break trips to Naples, Florida and summer vacations out west.
Dick enjoyed gardening, traveling, beekeeping and playing cards with his family and friends. He took great pride in his apple orchard, farmland, and the success of Indiana University's Men's Basketball team.
We will forever miss him, as we do Craig, but we know they are together again.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his two sisters, Norma Aiken of Lafayette and Janet (Jim) Inskeep of Romney; brother Jack (Jeannie) Roberts of Mulberry; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, Craig; son-in-law, Roland Forsyth; sisters Jean Massengill, Jane Yost, and JoAnn Hamill; and brothers Bob, Larry, and Donald Max Roberts.
In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or The American Lung Association.
Visitation will be from 2:00 pm until the time of the memorial service at 3:30 pm on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at Soller-baker West Lafayette Chapel, 1184 Sagamore Parkway W. West Lafayette, IN 47906.