Obituary of Stark Eugene Roberts

Stark E. Roberts Endwell: Stark E. Roberts, 87, of Endwell, passed away at home on April 1, 2012. Stark is survived by his wife, Patricia Roberts; son, Stephen Roberts of Washington, DC; daughter-in-law, Lisa Polisar; and sister, Carolyn Bouton of Apalachin. Stark and Pat have been married for 64 years, a testament to true lifelong commitment. Stark was a success story, graduating from U-E High School at the age of 16 and hired by IBM at 17 as Apprentice Toolmaker. He retired from IBM in 1985 having managed 2,500 employees as Manufacturing Manager and Operating Manager-Manager of Packaging Support. He was known as the "Father of Circuit Packaging", laying the early ground work for computing in the '80's. One of his proudest achievements was becoming a Navy pilot. He again was a gutsy pioneer as part of a small group to undergo WWII Night Attack Combat Training, landing on aircraft carriers at night. He flew 17 different aircraft, including jet fighters. Through all this, he was a great dad. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Stark's memory to Broome County Council of Churches, CHOW - Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse, 3 Otseningo St., Binghamton, NY 13903, (607) 724-9130, www.broomecouncil.net/donate.html or St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Jefferson Ave., Endicott, NY 13760. Funeral services will be held noon Thursday, April 5, 2012, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 200 Jefferson Ave., Endicott. Family will receive friends for one hour prior to services. A private burial for family and close friends will follow the services at Riverhurst Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home, Endicott.