William "Bill" Roberts, a University of Dayton professor emeritus of theology who taught at UD for 35 years and was well known for his popular Christian marriage course, died July 25 at Ohio's Hospice of Dayton. He was 94.
Roberts started at UD in 1975 as adjunct faculty in the religious studies graduate program. He joined the UD Department of Religious Studies tenured faculty in 1980 and retired in 2015 with the rank of professor emeritus.
Previously, he served as chair of the theology department at Wheeling College in West Virginia and the religious studies department at the former Edgecliff College in Cincinnati.
Roberts also was a volunteer instructor for many years at the UD Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, where he taught more than 40 seminars.
His areas of teaching included an introduction to Catholic theology, Christology, sacramental theology and Christian marriage.
"Dr. Roberts will be fondly remembered by the many students who clambered to take his course in Christian marriage," said Jana Bennett, professor and chair of the UD Department of Religious Studies. "He had a great love for his students and his colleagues in the department, and he will be greatly missed."
A May 2015 Dayton Daily News article about Roberts' retirement from UD noted a 22-student waiting list the previous semester for his Christian marriage course.
Roberts told the newspaper that he would miss "the young people I find so inspiring, and from whom I have learned so much." The article said he was heartened by the fact that his course had enabled students to get out of destructive relationships and also know how to recognize a compatible partner.
Dennis Doyle, professor emeritus of religious studies, recalled Roberts as a supportive colleague and wonderful person.
"His life and his work were of one piece," Doyle said. "He was devoted to his faith and to his family, and he taught courses in Christology and marriage. He even co-authored a marriage textbook with his wife, Challon. The phrase I most associate with Bill is 'pastoral theologian.' In the classroom, he strove passionately both to enlighten his students' minds and to foster their spiritual growth."
Sister Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH, director of the UD Institute for Pastoral Initiatives, said Roberts was a strong advocate for advancing new perspectives, courses and a vision for UD's Pastoral Ministry graduate program.
"He worked tirelessly, animating the religious studies department to think in new ways for designing new courses and methodologies for addressing the emerging pastoral ministries of the Church," Zukowski said. "There is no doubt his profound faith and deep spirituality inspired each and every UD student he encountered."
Roberts wrote and edited 15 books on a variety of theological topics, including Marriage: It's a God Thing; Marriage: Sacrament of Hope and Challenge; and Partners in Intimacy: Living Christian Marriage Today.
He spent many years as a eucharistic minister and lector at Holy Angels Church in Dayton.
Roberts held a doctoral degree in theology from Marquette University, and master's and bachelor's degrees in English at Fordham University. His professional associations included membership in the Jesuit honor society Alpha Sigma Nu, the Catholic Theological Society of America and the College Theology Society.
Roberts jogged from the age of 8 to 80, enjoyed Dayton Philharmonic dates with his wife, continuously nurtured a spiritual life and was an avid reader, according to his obituary page.
Family and friends will be received 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Westbrock Funeral Home, 1712 Wayne Ave., Dayton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4, at Holy Angels Church, 1322 Brown St., Dayton. He will be laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery in Dayton.