South Woodstock, Vermont

Laurence "Larry" Roberts, Jr., 99, Woodstock's 1994 Rotary Citizen of the Year, died on Thursday morning November 25, 2021 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH after a very full life.

Born October 23, 1922 in Torrington, CT the son of Laurence and Dorothy (Friend) Roberts Larry grew up in Riverton, CT and attended Trinity College receiving a Masters in physics and education. Larry would go on to teach mathematics and physics at the Woodstock Country School for 15 years and at the Holderness School in Plymouth, NH for 16 years, retiring from Holderness in 1984 and returning to Woodstock.

Though his work educating young minds was important, Larry was extremely well known for his dedication to organizations that centered around giving back. Larry joined the Boy Scouts of America in 1936, achieving his Eagle rank in 1940 and served on committees that supported scouting for decades, even receiving the Episcopal Church's rare St. George Award for his commitment to helping develop young minds though scouting.

Larry served in the US Army in 1945 and 1946. He continued his commitment by supporting the Ora E Paul Post # 24 of the American Legion for many years, serving as both Chaplain and Vice Commander. His lifelong commitment to the Episcopal Church was unwavering from his early days serving as an acolyte to his serving on the Vestry and beyond. He was a parishioner at St. James in Woodstock and also a long-time member and former Chaplain for the Woodstock Masonic Lodge.

Larry never sat still, he spent decades volunteering for the Edwin Thompson Senior Center, Glad Rags, the local food shelf, the Visiting Nurses Association, and many, many more. His over 11 gallons of donations to the blood bank and many years of assisting elders and others with taxes and financial consulting would be difficult for anyone to match.

When asked his secret for longevity, Larry responded "Give blood regularly, get out and be involved, volunteer and give of yourself and, of course, be left-handed!"

He is survived by his children: Hannah Roberts Artuso, Storm Roberts, Mark Wallace Roberts, and his grandchildren: Celeste Roberts, Kathryn Wallace Roberts, Mariya Godsend Roberts Hall and Mary Kelton Artuso, brother Douglas Roberts, his nieces, nephews and many cousins. He is predeceased by his wives Mary Kelton Wallace Roberts and Priscilla Alden Ramsay, as well his brother Arba Roberts.

A memorial service will be held on Friday December 3, 2021 at 1:00pm at St. James Episcopal Church in Woodstock, Vermont., if attending a mask will be required. The service can be viewed that day on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81254573682pwd=SlY4Sm9ZTWM0d0YzcTVHUlZ6Z2hkQT09

His ashes will be interred at a later date in his family's plot in Barkhamsted, CT.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire (vnhcare.org) or The South Woodstock Fire Department (P.O. Box 1, South Woodstock, VT 05071).

An on-line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com.