Past President of Texas SAR Obituary
James G. Robertson, Jr., a skillful genealogist, past president of the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution, World War II veteran and systems sales engineer for IBM died August 10, 2011 in a Plano, Texas, hospital.
Obituary of James G. Robertson, Jr. — July 11, 1923 - August 10, 2011
James G. Robertson, Jr., a skillful genealogist, past president of the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution, World War II veteran and systems sales engineer for IBM died August 10, 2011 in a Plano, Texas, hospital.
According to family members he died of complications related to overall failing health.
Having lived on Cedar Creek Lake in Enchanted Oaks, Texas, for more than two decades, Mr. Robertson had moved to Dallas in 2009 to be closer to family members.
Born in Vernon, Texas, July 11, 1923, Mr. Robertson was the son of James and Clara Robertson, both of Vernon. While growing up, he lived in Texas, New Mexico and Florida, where he was graduated from Orlando High School in 1941.
He attended the University of Florida for a year before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in September 1942. On December 20, 1942, he married Virginia Corinne Smith, his high school sweetheart. During World War II, Mr. Robertson served as a combat aircraft radar technician, receiving training at several state-side locations before being deployed to the Pacific Theater.
Following the Pacific War, Mr. Robertson completed his college education at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, receiving a BS degree in Electrical Engineering in 1948. From 1949 through 1984, Mr. Robertson worked for International Business Machines (IBM). During his 35-year career with IBM he served in various technical, sales and management positions in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Texas. He worked on the Gemini and Apollo space programs while on assignment at Cape Kennedy (now Cape Canaveral) during the 1960s. He returned to Texas and settled in Dallas in 1968. Along with his wife, Mr. Robertson traveled widely in the United States and Europe.
Upon his retirement from IBM in 1984, he turned his energies to genealogy, tracing the family histories of his own line, plus that of his wife. He joined the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) in 1988 and over the years served in various chapter and state offices, including President of the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution and National Trustee from Texas. A true patriot and tireless researcher, his list of organizations illustrate his passion: the Sons of the Revolution, the General Society of the War of 1812, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Society of the Descendants of Washington's Army at Valley Forge, the Sons and Daughters of Pilgrims, the Jamestowne Society, the Somerset Chapter of the Magna Charta Barons, the Order of Three Crusades and the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States of America.
Mr. Robertson was also active in his local community in East Texas. He served as treasurer of First Baptist Church of Mabank for 10 years, was the founding president of the Root Seekers Genealogical Society, treasurer of the Town of Enchanted Oaks for six years and president of the Friends of the Tri-County Library.
After moving to Dallas, Mr. Robertson worked in leadership for Highland Springs genealogical club and served on the Highland Springs finance committee.
Mr. Robertson is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia Corinne Robertson, son Wayne K. Robertson and daughter-in-law Donna of Decatur, Georgia, daughter Nancy R. Kerstetter and son-in-law Robert W. of Richardson, Texas, daughter Marcia R. Dilly and son-in-law Robert J. of Austin, Texas, and daughter Janice R. Hobbs and son-in-law Ronald G. of McKinney, Texas. His surviving grandchildren are Russell Kerstetter of Littleton, Colorado, Christina McMillan of Austin, Texas, Emily Robertson of Decatur, Georgia, Matthew Dilly of Austin, Texas, Michelle McCarley of McKinney, Texas, Bradley Kerstetter of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Katie Robertson of Decatur, Georgia, Scott Kerstetter of Plano, Texas, Glenn Kerstetter of Richardson, Texas, and Jessica Carver of McKinney, Texas. His great-grandchildren are Emma and Haley McMillan of Austin, Texas, and Claire McCarley of McKinney, Texas, He was preceded in death by his parents James Grady Robertson Sr. and Clara Leutwyler Robertson, and his brother Edward Robertson of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Mabank, Texas, on Monday, August 15, 2011 at 1:00pm. Internment will follow at 4:00pm at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Sunday, August 14 at Restland.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the genealogical library at Tri-County Library, PO Box 1770, Mabank, TX 75147, or to the Family Resource Center, 107 Spring Valley St., Mabank, TX 75156.
