Obit: Benjamin F. Roark, Charlotte, Mecklenburg CO NC. USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Carolyn Golowka CGolowka@prodigy.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attached is a .txt file with an obituary for Benjamin F. Roark. He died after 1923. Apparently, he was a prosperous jeweler in Charlotte. Benjamin was my great-great uncle. Carolyn Golowka I have a copy of this obituary that my great-grandmother, Aletha Emma Bruce Roark, wife of Robert, pasted in a scrape book. Unfortunately, she did not include the date of the obit or the name of the newspaper in which it was printed. Benjamin F. Roark was the oldest son of Page Roark and Nancy Adeline Prater Roark. Unfortunately, the date of death is not available from this obituary. He did die after his brother, Robert (Robinson) Cicero Roark as Benjamin is named as a surviving brother in Robert's obituary. Robert died on Nov. 15, 1923 in Atlanta, GA. "B. F. Roark, jeweler, known for many years for his active participation in the life of Charlotte, died this morning at 3 o^Òclock at his home here, 5 Harvard Place, Myers Park. Mr. Roark had been in ill health for several months. He suffered an attack of pneumonia and influenza last winter and never fully recovered from that. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock at the Roark home, to be conducted by Rev. G. R. Combs, D.D., paster of Myers Park Methodist Church, assisted by Rev. John Moore Walker, D.D., paster of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Burial will be made in Oaklawn Cemetery. Active pallbearers were named as follows: John M. Little, R. C. Williams, R. E. Faud, Dr. John Hill Tucker, A. T. Summey and Walter Davidson. Honoary pallbearers include R. L. Wagner, W. L. Bruns, J. P. Little, Sr., J. N. McCausland, R. A. Dunn, E. M. Shelton, Hershel Johnson, A. B. Justice, and A. J. Hagood. Mr. Roark was born in Gainesville, GA, September 4, 1861. He was educated in schools there and in Gainesville College. He taught for a while, being principal of the Houston, GA High School. While he was in Gainesville he learned the jewelry business from an old German watchmaker. He married Miss Agnes Ortagues in Gainesville and they moved here in January 1912. Mr. Roark engaged in the jewelry business here and at the time of his death was president of B. F. Roark, Inc. He was recognized as an expert on diamonds, and spent three years in South Africa in the diamond region, studying diamond mining, cutting, and marketing methods. His knowledge of precious stones was regarded a thorough. Enthusiasm for Merchandising Enthusiasm for merchandising marked Mr. Roark's career and he was active in the affairs of the Charlotte Merchants Association. He was for two years president of the association and gave of his time and thought to the problems of merchants here and the general advancement of the commercial life of the city. He was for many years a member of the board of directors of the association. He had been president of the North Carolina Merchants Association and when the State association formed an advisory council of former officers, he was placed on it, holding that place at the time of his death. Officials of the local association this morning described his work for the association as of great value. Mr. Roark took an active part in the work of the church and the community welfare. He was a member of Myers Park Methodist Church. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity in Georgia. His activities since moving to this city were aimed at forwarding the interests of the city along solid lines. He is survived by his widow, two daughters, Mrs. Fred Tucker, of Richmond, VA, and Miss Harriett Roark, of this city; a son, B. F. Roark, Jr., and a sister, Mrs J. C. Rankin, of Liberty, S.C."