Walter I. Roberts, 88, advertising manager

Walter I. Roberts, 88, of Marlton, who retired in 1989 as an assistant advertising manager with Westminster Press, the former Philadelphia publisher of Presbyterian materials, died of multiple organ failure Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Before joining Westminster in 1960, Mr. Roberts worked as a reporter and photographer for several newspapers such as the Wilmington Record, the Moorestown News-Chronicle, and the Bucks County Chronicle.

Between those papers and his work at Westminster, he was in the South Jersey corporate communications departments of Radio Corp. of America and General Electric Co.

Mr. Roberts grew up on a vegetable farm in West Chester and ran for track teams at the Penn Relays and at West Chester High School, from which he graduated in 1942, his son, John, said.

Because of his farm work, Mr. Roberts was exempt from military service until the family moved to Narberth. He served in the Army from 1944 to 1947.

Serving on Saipan in the last days of World War II with a coastal artillery battery, his son said, "he was never actually in combat, but was in a position to apprehend a number of Japanese soldiers."

Stationed on Saipan after war's end, he represented his unit in track events at what was called an Army Olympics in occupied Tokyo, his son said.

Mr. Roberts worked as a corporate photographer from his parents' Narberth home and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Temple University in 1952.

Except for the 1958-59 year, when he operated Roberts Photography studio in Reading, he and his family lived in South Jersey, mostly in Cherry Hill and Medford Lakes.

While in Reading, his son said, Mr. Roberts in his spare time was an electrician and lighting engineer for amateur theatrical productions.

A charter member of Faith United Presbyterian Church in Medford, he was also a member of the Medford Lakes Colony Club.

Besides his son, Mr. Roberts is survived by his wife, Lucile "Lea"; another son, Scott; daughters Susan Courtney and E. June Ellaway-Lunn; two grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and four step-great-grandchildren.

A visitation was set for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, at Grace Episcopal Church, 19 Kings Highway E., Haddonfield, before an 11 a.m. funeral service there, with interment in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.kainmurphy.com.