Bobby Smith Roth

Bobby Smith Roth born September 12, 1922 in Drew, Mississippi raised in Itta Bena, Mississippi passed away October 27, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 93. Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, George Lester and Ethel Jane Roth and brothers, George Lester Roth Jr and Harold Stanley Roth and one granddaughter, Amanda Ferman. Bobby is survived by his wife, Gode Obledo Roth and four daughters: Gode Jane Bergmann, Beverly Susan Soyars, Barbara Permilla Roth, Rebecca Eileen Autry and one son, David Harold Obledo Roth and four son-in-laws: Patrick Bergmann, Lloyd Soyars, Alan Weinkrantz, Lynn Autry, and one daughter-in-law, Rachelle Roth. Bobby is also survived by seven granddaughters: Cristina Kilcher, Jessica Browning, Megan Soyars, Lauren Weinkrantz, Kate Welder, Kim Cantrell, Ashlyn Roth, four grandsons, Robert Ferman, Erwin Soyars, Aaron Weinkrantz and Jacob Roth and three great-granddaughters, two great-grandsons and numerous nieces and nephews.

Capt. Bobby Roth attended Le Flore High School in Itta Bena, Mississippi, and Delta Community College, formerly Sunflower Junior College. Capt. Roth entered the Air Force in April 1942 flying B-29 Superfortresses in the Pacific with the 462nd Bomb Group of the 58th Bomb Wing, where he was the first pilot and also the youngest in his wing to complete thirty combat missions, including WWII’s longest air mission and thirteen bombing missions over Japan. His distinguished decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters. He was discharged in January 1952, after which Bobby graduated from Trinity University, San Antonio, in 1956 with top honors and began his career as a Geodist with Army Map Service of U.S. Topographic Command at Ft. Sam Houston for twenty years. He was a professor in the Drafting and Surveying Department at St. Phillips College in San Antonio, Texas for the next 18 years. Bobby began flying with the Fort Sam Houston Flying Club in 1982 traveling all over the country in a Cessna 172 out of Stinson Field which he loved to do till shortly before his passing. Capt. Roth was a member of the Retired Officers Assn., Military Order of the World Wars, United Flying Octogenarians, Order of Daedalians, Trinity University Alumni, Retired Alamo Community College Teachers Assn., China Burma India Veterans Assn. and life member of St. David’s Episcopal Church.

Visitation will take place Monday November 2, 2015 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Sunset Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will take place Tuesday November 3, 2015 at 12:00pm at St. David’s Episcopal Church 1300 Wiltshire San Antonio, Texas 78209 with Rev. Lisa Mason.