Roland Victor Roethler's Obituary
Roland Victor Roethler, 91, formerly of Bellbrook/Dayton, passed away January 4, 2016 at Community North Hospital in Indianapolis, IN. He was born July 13, 1924 to Victor Michael Roethler and Elizabeth Mary (Gilligan) Roethler on a farm in Elma, IA. He is survived by his son Timothy V. Roethler and wife Patricia A. (Downey) Roethler, grandson Michael V. Roethler and wife Chanda, granddaughter Jaclyn A. Roethler, great-grandchildren Jacob V. Roethler, Alexandria Lewis and Sebastian Cox all of Indianapolis, IN area. Also surviving are his brother Kenneth Roethler (Donna) and sister Jean Greising, his brothers-in-law Wavel Swart and Ohmer Swart (Jean). He was proceeded in death by his wife of 63 years Wilma Roethler and granddaughter Dawn Marie Roethler. His family moved from Iowa to Orr, MN during the depression where his father worked in the CCC/WPA camps and then settled there. After graduating High School he enlisted in the Army Air Force during WW-II. There he was the belly gunner in a B-17 stationed in England where he flew 36 missions (maximum allowed) over Germany. After the war he ended up working for NCR as a systems analyst and moved to Dayton where he met his wife Wilma and they eventually settled in Bellbrook. During their time there he became involved in Boy Scouts and was Scoutmaster of Troop 75 for over five years visiting Camp Philmont several times and receiving Scouting’s highest award, the Silver Beaver Award, for his contributions to Scouting. After retiring in 1972, he and Wilma began a career in ceramics from the basement of their home in Bellbrook. They together, over the years, owned and operated the Bellbrook Ceramic Shop, Cedar Hill Ceramics and the Dorn Stilt Co. until they officially retired in the year 2000 and then moved to Indianapolis in 2006. Family and friends will gather Friday Jan. 8th from 6-8 pm and Saturday from 9:30 until life celebration services at 10:30 am at CONNER & KOCH Life Celebration Home, 92 W. Franklin St., Bellbrook (937-848-6651). Rev. Ohmer Swart officiating. Burial in Miami Valley Memory Gardens. Memorial contributions may be sent to Community Home Health Hospice Program, 9824 East 121st St., Fishers, IN 46037. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ConnerAndKoch.com by clicking on his name.
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