Owen Shorty Roberts This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. HoosierTimes: Obituary listings for December 9, 2002

   www.hoosiertimes.com/stories/t - [Cached]

   Published on: 12/9/2002   Last Visited: 12/9/2002

   Owen A. ‘Shorty' Roberts
   
   ...
   Owen A. "Shorty" Roberts, a life-long resident and businessman of Bedford, died Sunday morning, December 8. Known as "Shorty," he stood tall in his family and has been considered a "gentle giant" by his friends and business associates.
   
   ...
   In 1940 Roberts answered a ‘help wanted' ad in the Indianapolis Star for Dexhimer and Carlon Studio and then moved on to Harbican Studio in Chicago, as a ‘kidnapper' or ‘diaper hunter,' taking photos of babies.
   
   While aboard the Rock Island, Ill., to Davenport, Iowa, ferry in May of 1940, taking snapshots of the Mississippi River, he met Dorothy Hanson. They were married four months later.
   
   In 1942 Roberts joined the photo department at John Deere in Moline, Ill., remaining there until being drafted by the U.S. Army in 1943. He served in the signal corps in the European Theater and at the close of his service, took a photography course at Manchester College of Technology in England.
   
   Returning to the United States in February 1946, Roberts again worked for Harbican in Chicago. On May 17, 1947, he and Dorothy opened their first studio above the Ideal Shoe Store in downtown Bedford.
   
   ...
   Roberts was born in Lyons, Indiana, and moved to Bedford when he was four years old. He graduated from Bedford High School, where the 6'5" athlete was a member of the basketball team that went to the state finals in his senior year. Serving his local community, Roberts was a former President and member of the Lions Club and a member of the First Christian Church.
   
   Owen "Shorty" Roberts is survived by his wife Dorothy; his son Bruce; his daughters, Cindy Roberts and Jennifer Mitchell; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.