Donald Lee Roofner

Donald Lee Roofner passed on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at his home in Winter Haven, FL, with his family. Born October 16, 1930 in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, he was the son of John E. “Jeff” and Ethel (Wolfe) Roofner. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Carol (Rupert); two sons, Ty (wife Abigail) and Trent; and four grandchildren, Ashley, Warner, Adler and Schaefer Roofner.

Don met Carol in 1971 through his cousin Linda at Morda’s Steak House in Kittanning, Pennsylvania…but they had no conversation. Through Linda’s persistence, they met again and started a courtship that lasted a little too long for Carol. Tired of waiting, Carol moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Not long thereafter, Don – ever determined – went to Ft. Lauderdale and convinced Carol to marry him. The marriage took place at the Clerk of the Court in Florence, South Carolina, on May 7, 1974, on their way back to Pennsylvania.

Don enjoyed spending time with his family, looking at the mountains from the porch of his second home in Bryson City, NC, collegiate and international wrestling, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the motion picture Friendly Persuasion, anything involving Clint Eastwood, right-wing politics, stuffed pork chops, pineapple upside down cake, a good fight, hard work and being a proud lifetime member of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was also a Freemason, but noted the reason for joining was being told he could never become a member because he was in the “beer business.”

Don was an entrepreneur from the beginning, foregoing post-secondary education to start a beer distributorship with a loan from his father. Thereafter, sandwiched between a few interesting other occupations, he continued various entrepreneurial pursuits.

After selling the distributorship, despite his distaste for unions, he took a union gig driving a crane for the Pullman-Standard railcar company. While at Pullman-Standard, he spotted a rundown tavern across the street called the Tally-Ho Bistro and purchased it with the goal of turning it around. The Tally-Ho Bistro featured “Flossy” playing the organ on Wednesday evenings. After turning the bistro around, they sold it and Don became a realtor with Towne & Country Realty.

In 1981, Don and Carol, along with Trent (1 month old) and Ty (5 years), without a concrete plan, moved to Lake Wales, Florida. While in Lake Wales, Don frequented the (now closed) Lake Wales Elks Lodge where he saved two (2) teenagers from drowning in the lodge swimming pool. An introduction through the Lodge resulted in a salesman position with Standard Coffee Company. His employment was eventually terminated due to a physical altercation with his superior.

In 1983, Don and Carol purchased a “Pinch-A-Penny Pool Patio & Spa” franchise also known as Store #12 in Winter Haven, Florida. Don found an occupation he truly enjoyed. The pool store was a family run business and his family has many great memories of Don during that time. He worked very hard to grow a thriving business. Great customer service was provided, but customer abuse was not tolerated. Don expelled quite a few prospective customers from the store for various reasons, published a “deadbeat customer list” at the cash register posting bad checks and seemed to enjoy tussling with the franchisor. Don and Carol owned the pool store for 17 years, until they sold it and retired in 2000.

Don (Dad) was a wonderful and colorful person who is loved deeply by his family and will be missed terribly. We have many great stories about Don, but most of all we will always remember him as a husband and father who loved us unconditionally. We are so very, very blessed to have had him as our husband and father.

Funeral services will be held at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home located at 645 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven, FL 33880, at 2:00 on Monday, December 17, 2018. In lieu of flowers, please consider making contributions to Good Shepard Hospice at 105 Arneson Ave, Arburndale, FL 33823.