Published October 5, 2023

H. Armstrong Roberts, III “Bob Roberts”, age 80, a lifelong resident of Philadelphia, died suddenly Saturday, September 23, 2023, with his beloved wife at his side.

Born on October 19, 1942, and raised in West Philadelphia on 42nd Street, and Springfield, Delaware County. Bob was the son of the late Sylvia G. (nee Heirholzer) and H. Armstrong Roberts, Jr. He was a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology. An Honorably discharged U.S. Army Veteran, Bob served as a lieutenant with the 25th Infantry Division in Korea and during the Vietnam War earning a bronze star and as a captain in the Pennsylvania National Guard.

He was the grandson of H. Armstrong Roberts, an internationally known photographer and early pioneer in the stock photography industry. His grandfather founded H. Armstrong Roberts, Inc. in 1920, setting up photographic studios and offices at 4203 Locust Street in West Philadelphia. Bob worked for his father at the agency all his life, taking over as owner/operator in 1979 and overseeing its transition to Robertstock/Classicstock, which continues to license its library of over 500,000 images. In this position, Bob oversaw computerization of the workplace, the development of in-house CD-ROM production, a shift to marketing historical and archival shots, the digitization of 60,000 photographs, and the transition to digital distribution. Under his stewardship, the company his grandfather started entered into its 103rd year, operating out of the same studios and offices at 4203 Locust Street.

Bob served as president and executive board member of the PACA Picture Agency Council / DMLA Digital Media Licensing Association in the 1980s & 1990s. He received a Lifetime Achievement award from the DMLA in 2016.

In his spare time, Bob was a kind and supportive friend. He was an enthusiastic collector of historic antique firearms, and a longtime member of the NMLRA National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, the National Rifle Association, and the NSSA North South Skirmish Association. In earlier days he was an avid historic re-enactor and continued to shoot competitively with the NSSA. Bob played the fiddle and the banjo very well. Once leader of Capt. Bob’s Tuesday Night Band in the 1970s, he possessed over 7,000 bluegrass songs on his iPhone. He also spent the most enjoyable time meeting and mentoring young banjo players.

On August 22, 2021, after 52 years of working together and 20 years as significant partners, Bob married Roberta T. Groves.

In addition to his wife Roberta, he is survived by his sisters Susan Fitzpatrick (Tom) and Carolyn Luce (Alan), brother Timothy Roberts, nephews Mike Fitzpatrick and Timothy Luce, niece Kristin Fitzpatrick, and numerous grand nieces, nephews and cousins.

Relatives and Friends are invited to his 11am Graveside Service on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Rd, Newtown, PA 18940. Family and friends planning to attend are asked to arrive at 10:45am at the cemetery, to join the procession in front of the Cemetery Office. The procession will leave the office at 11am sharp.

The family requests no flowers at this time, for those wishing to Honor Bob’s Memory, they suggest contributions to The Wounded Warrior Project: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org or planting a tree.