United Methodist Church elder was dedicated to family and social justice
MARLBOROUGH, N.H. — Robert K. Sweet Jr., 85, died at home on June 29, 2023 with his loving family surrounding him.
Bob was born in Upton, Mass. on Oct. 11, 1937 to Robert and Ruth Sweet. After graduating from Grafton High School, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1959. While at UMass, he met his future wife, Elizabeth “Betty” A. Graves, and in 1959 he and Betty were married in Shirley, Mass.
He started his ministerial training at Hartford Seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1962. He went on to obtain a doctorate in Parish Ministry. In addition to his wife Betty, Bob is survived by two children: Robert Keniston (Kenis) and his wife Vickie (Lucia) of Lake George, New York; and Bonnie Rae Spicer and her husband, Kevin. He also leaves behind six grandchildren: Colleen Maria; Torey Keniston; Eli Martyn and his wife, Katherine; Noah Chamberlain; Heather Morrissette and her fiancé Justin; and Hanna Morrissette.
Robert was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in 1962 and for 40 years served churches in Easthampton Mass., West Springfield, Mass., Niantic, Conn. and Reading, Mass. Between 1981 and 1987, he served as district superintendent of the RISEM District, offering leadership to 84 churches and 72 pastors.
Bob led dozens of summer programs for youth at camps and on trips around New England, as well as leading mission work teams in countries around the world. He worked closely with the bishop as a member of the cabinet, chaired multiple boards and was a conference parliamentarian. Bob was elected delegate to numerous General Conferences of the United Methodist Church and to the World Methodist Conference in Kenya in 1987 and in Brazil in 1992. Social justice was very important to him, as he chaired multiple related committees, marched in Memphis during the 1968 sanitation workers strike, and organized demonstrations for such causes as labor rights, environmentalism, and nuclear disarmament.
In retirement, he served as trustee of the Marlborough Frost Free Library and co-chair of the Library Building Committee. He and Betty traveled to over 50 countries and throughout North America. His first love was his family, followed by the church and its people.
Services will be held on Friday, July 14, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Federated Church of Marlborough, 16 Pleasant St., Marlborough, N.H., with collation immediately afterwards at 160 Main St., Marlborough, N.H. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Federated Church of Marlborough, 16 Pleasant St., Marlborough, N.H.; Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South St., Bow, N.H., 03304; and Friends of Frost Free Library, PO Box 457, 28 Jaffrey Rd., Marlborough, N.H., 03455 (https://greatnonprofits.org/org/friends-of-frost-freelibrary).
All services are under the care of the Cheshire Family Funeral Home and Crematories, 46 South Winchester St., Swanzey, N.H. 03446. For directions and to sign the guestbook, visit www.cheshirefamilyfh.com.