Benjamin Douglas Roberts

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Bill Peters on January 29, 2014:

Services were conducted on January 17, 2014 and were attended by Classmates and wives, Phil and Dianne Enslow, Bill and Laura Haas, Dick and Ellie Hoeferkamp, Larry and Sybil Michalove and Bill and Sharon Peters. George Meighen, Class of 1951 also attended. Family members (Including daughter, Mary, sons Ben and Ken, grandsons Taylor and Conner and several other relatives), classmates and many friends gathered at the Main Street Tavern for lunch prior to services. Memorial Services were held at the beautiful Spring Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Montevallo, Alabama. The Reverend Dick Hoeferkamp, Class of 1955, extended greetings and welcome to the one hundred and seventeen attendees and delivered the Homily. Dick's consoling and truly inspirational homily captured the essence of Buddy's life at West Point, in the Army and in his community. Bill Peters delivered the Tribute to Buddy which summarized their sixty-three year friendship, beginning as roommates at West Point, Buddy's service to our country and his service to his community following retirement. Bill included in his tribute a poem written by Buddy's daughter, Mary, for his eightieth birthday which beautifully described his life and her love for her father. All sang the song, Eternal Father Strong to Save. The song had been modified by Bill Haas so that one verse related to Buddy's service in war, one related to Buddy's flying and one related to the Corps. Bill also prepared an outstanding program for services that included a cadet picture and a recent picture of Buddy and the words of our Alma Mater. Military Commitment Services were held at the Alabama National Cemetery, Montevallo, Alabama by the Birmingham Section of the Montgomery Joint Force, Alabama National Guard. The detail conducted the services in superb fashion. Following services, Bill Peters was honored to place Buddy's remains at the site of interment and to place the first soil in the grave. Family, classmates and a large number of friends gathered at a reception at the Main Street Tavern, Montevallo, following internment. The family and attendees were impressed by the closeness of our class members as was so well demonstrated throughout the day. Buddy sleeps in peace among the people and in the soil that he so loved.

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