Former Owner of Meadowlands Ice Cream
TEWKSBURY: Percy L. Roberts, age 65, a lifelong Tewksbury resident, passed away on Friday, September 18, 2009 at the Lowell General Hospital.
Born in Lowell on October 29, 1943, he was the son of the late Harold L. and Hope M. (Haines) Roberts.
Percy attended Tewksbury schools and graduated from Tewksbury Memorial High School in 1961.
Mr. Roberts was employed in Plant Operations by the Holy Family Hospital in Methuen for 10 years and was the former owner of Meadowlands Ice Cream in West Tewksbury for 25 years until his retirement in 2002. In addition, he previously worked as a steam fire engineer at the University of Lowell, St. John's Hospital and Lowell General Hospital.
In earlier years, Percy enjoyed tending to the daily chores on the family farm in West Tewksbury, where he raised Black Angus cattle, trained trotter and pacer race horses and maintained numerous acres of hay fields. During his retirement, he enjoyed walking on Crane's Beach, traveling with his family in their motor home to Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Smokey Mountains.
Percy is survived by two sisters, Sylvia H. Starling of Tewksbury and Hope M. Gibbs and her husband Gary of Hudson, NH; two nephews, R. Russell Starling and his wife Kathleen of Lowell and Jason M. DeBow and his wife Mary Grace of Nashua, NH; two nieces, Lynne A. Starling of Inman, SC and Jill A. Bearce and her husband Jeff of Gray, ME; numerous grandnieces and grandnephews including, Stephen R. and Stephanie C. Starling, Lindsay N. Bearce, Camryn J. Lachica, Levity G., Bella J., and Music E. DeBow; his dear friend, Jane Calledare of Tewksbury.
Percy was the brother of the late Lindley D. Roberts and uncle of the late Grant H. Starling.
Calling hours will be held Tuesday morning, Sept. 22nd, from 9-11 a.m. at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury, followed by his funeral service to be held at the funeral home. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.