Hugh Thomas "Tom" Roberts

NORTH CANTON - Hugh Thomas “Tom” Roberts walked into the waiting arms of his Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, June 5, 2023, after a brief illness. Tom was born in Akron, Ohio, on July 1, 1930, to Harold G. “Bob” Roberts and Mable Upton Roberts, before moving to Stow with his parents as a young boy. Tom was the older brother of Nancy Jean and Laura Esther and was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Nancy; brother-in-law, Ed Barnes, and grandson, Noah Maynard. Tom is survived by Freeda (Sturm) Roberts, his loving bride of 66 years; son, Bob (Linny) Roberts; daughter, Linda (Dave) Maynard; grandchildren, Ryan Roberts, Lauren (Daniel) Semelsberger, and Hannah Maynard; sister, Laura (Ted) Root; and many wonderful nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Tom was a proud Navy veteran, having served four years on the naval destroyer USS Kidd/DD-661 in the Korean Conflict, where he met lifelong friend, Dave Novak. When the sailors’ active duty was completed, Dave arranged a blind date for Tom and Freeda. The young couple dated for three months before getting engaged and then married in July 1956 - and six months later the couple moved to Southern California. Their west coast transfer was the first of many moves that included the bayous of Southwest Louisiana, Northeast Ohio (twice), and the coast of North Carolina. Tom’s tour with the Navy had a lifelong impact on him and helped establish the personal discipline and pursuit of excellence that were hallmarks of his life. Yet, Tom’s personality was also marked by his spontaneity, fun-loving nature and easy smile that made him a quick friend and mentor to so many - most importantly, his family. Tom loved dancing with Freeda; listening to and performing music, (especially vocal performances); teaching his kids to snow ski, roller skate, ice skate, and fish; going out to dinner with anyone who wanted to share a table; cars of all types, including race car driving when he was a young man; art, enjoying the outdoors, and feeding the birds at his many bird feeders. After retiring from Babcock & Wilcox, where he had the opportunity to fully utilize his engineering skills and also travel the globe, Tom and Freeda enjoyed road trips, dancing, spending quality time with their kids and grandkids and being the life of family reunions where he and his cousins put on quite the show for the rest of the family. Most importantly, Tom accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior in 1997 during the Promise Keepers Stand In the Gap event in Washington, D.C. with his son and son-in-law. Dad’s quiet faith was made evident through his love of his church family at North Canton Chapel and especially during his recent hospitalization at Summa Akron City Hospital, where he became a favorite patient of many nurses, staff, and doctors while maintaining his mastery of the one-liner. Calling hours will be held from 9:30 - 11 AM, on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at North Canton Chapel, 715 Whittier Avenue, NW, North Canton, Ohio 44720. A Celebration of Life service will commence immediately after calling hours. The family will host a light lunch at the church after the service. Full military interment will be held at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville, Ohio, on Monday, June 19, 2023, for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the USS Kidd Memorial Fund, 305 South River Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 ~ usskidd.com or Tyler’s Redemption Place, 2684 Sanitarium Road, Akron, OH 44312 ~ hopeunited.life