Walter John Roth

Walter J. Roth of Okemos, Michigan passed away quietly on December 8, 2017 at McLaren Hospital in Lansing at the age of 92. Walt was born on February 10, 1925 and raised on the family farm in Lowell, Michigan. After graduating high school, he joined the Army Air Corps (Air Force) and was trained as a Flight Engineer on a B-29 bomber airplane. After WW II, he attended Michigan State College (MSU), was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Engineering, having spent a summer semester in Norway and then traveling through Europe. He worked for Standard Oil Company for several years in Michigan and went to work for the State of Michigan as a Highway Traffic Engineer until his retirement.

He married (Dorothy) Kapua Reeves in 1952 and they had four children, Dawn (Greene), Scott, Julie and Lori (Evely) and have five grandchildren, Johnathan, Michael, and Bonnie Greene and Jessica and Jamie Evely. Walt loved to travel by car, and by camping or later with a motor coach, he and his family nearly made it to all 50 states. He was an avid reader and enjoyed bowling and golf into his 90s. He liked playing cards, cooking, having a garden, and saving money (he was able to repair almost anything). Walter gave great advice, had a fantastic memory, told entertaining stories from his life and was a wonderful father and grandfather who will be greatly missed.

Walter was preceded in death by his wife, Kapua; brothers, Fred, Alfred, and Rudolph; sister, June Houser; brother-in-law, William Houser and sisters-in-law, Dora, Virginia, Joan and Doris Roth. He is survived by his brother, Edwin (98); children, grand children and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on June 23, 2018 at 12 noon at Gorsline Runciman East Chapel, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing.