John Aubrey Roberts, Jr.

John Aubrey “Johnny” Roberts, Jr, 83, of Hickory Creek in Faber, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2023.

Johnny was born in Schuyler on March 16, 1940 at the home of his beloved maternal grandparents, Cassius Lee and Nora Simpson. He was the son of the late Beryl Jeanette and John Aubrey Roberts, Sr. of Faber.

Johnny graduated from Nelson County High School in 1957. As a member of the Nelson County concert and marching band, he played trombone and served as drum major under the leadership of band director, Robert Sanger, to whom he stayed close until Mr. Sanger’s death in 2012. He joined the US Army for two years and served at Fort AP Hill as a medical inspector. He went on to earn his BS and MS in horticulture from Virginia Tech.  Johnny taught shop at Nelson County Junior High School and then horticulture at Nelson County High School for more than 30 years until his retirement in 1999. To his students, he was a beloved, supportive teacher and friend. He served as FFA advisor for most of his teaching career, taking the FFA team to many state and national competitions.

He had a love for old ways and simpler times. One of his favorite things to do was to sit and talk. He was an eloquent story-teller, always ready with his repertoire of tales to tell of old friends and fun times; usually injecting a song into the story along with his signature laugh. He belonged to Nelson County and he valued his lifelong friendships. For many years he helped gather his high school classmates for reunions and enjoyed providing the perfect music for each occasion. Over the years, Johnny had a collection of old cars and was especially talented at restoring them. Exploring a back road on a Sunday drive in an old Ford was his idea of a great day.

Johnny’s immense and eternal love was for his family. He is survived by his children; daughter Suzanne Jeanette Jones, son-in-law Jack Jones, grandson Nick Jones (Purnima) and granddaughter Anna Katherine Jones, daughter Dianne Lee Nordt, son-in-law Bill Nordt, granddaughters Oriana Nordt and Eudora Nordt and grandson Willy Nordt, son John Aubrey Roberts, III, daughter-in-law Tara Roberts, granddaughters Mylah and Skylar Roberts and grandson Austin Roberts. For his children and grandchildren, Johnny was consistently proud, present and selfless, always generously expressing his love and devotion.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 10 at Rock Spring United Methodist Church in Faber. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Arrangements by Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel, Lovingston, VA (434-263-4097).