James Alfred Roberts

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AVON — James Alfred “Bud” Roberts, 84 of Avon, Ill., formerly of Buda, died Monday, April 6, 2009.

He was born June 17, 1924 in Buda to Ralph and Allie (Gutshall) Roberts.

Jim was a veteran of World War II. He was drafted in the Army Air Corps in April 1944 and did his basic training at Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Ill. He was a flight engineer and top turret gunner in a B-24 bomber. He was stationed in near Ipswich, England, and flew in 54 successful missions, earning a purple heart and four campaign ribbons. Jim is a 50-year member of the Buda American Legion Post 261.

He worked in the trucking business in the LaSalle-Peru and Hennepin area. He was a truck owner-operator for most of his life hauling everything from cattle to canned goods to beer, cars (Nash Rambler), steel and mail.

Jim grew up in the depression so he had a great ability to fix things and to know their value. This led to a lifetime of collecting and he traveled widely on the flea market circuit in his retirement years.

He is survived by six children, Dennis (Diana Renner) Roberts of Lancaster, Pa., Kay (Gary) Fulkerson of Jacksonville, Patti (Sean) Moynihan of Princeton, Susan (Bob) Johnson of Buda, Daniel (Cindy Dirks) Roberts of Bushnell and Judi (Rick) Torricelli of Fort Myers, Fla.; one brother, Robert “Bob” Roberts of Venice, Fla.; six sisters, Doris Jane Woods of Ocala, Fla., Mildred “Bea” Martin of Noblesville, Ind., Roberta Grafton of Crown Point, Ind., Lois Arnold and Effie JoAnn Gerard, both of Buda, and Ruth Hobrock of Princeton; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers Fred, William Arthur and Richard; one sister, Phyllis Ann Marchello; one granddaughter, Amy Roberts Holler; and one great-granddaughter, Zoe Porter.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Buda, with the Rev. Marvin Claassen officiating. Burial will be in Hopeland Cemetery, Buda, with military rites accorded by Buda American Legion Post 261.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the services in the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to Avon Nursing Home, 1790 23rd Ave., Avon, IL 61415; or Hopeland Cemetery in Buda.