Robert Roush

Dr. Robert Murray Roush, formerly of Kendallville, Ind. and Sebring, Fla. died at 5:20 a.m. Friday, July 13, 2012. He was born May 7, 1919, in Jonesboro, to Charles Bacon Roush and Bertha Lydia (Carey) Roush. Dr. Roush graduated from Marion High School in 1937 and from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in 1941. That same year, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve, being called to active duty in September as Petty Officer. He was assigned to duty aboard the U.S.S. Holly, Navy Submarine Net Tender. He served in both the Atlantic and South Pacific Theaters before attending Midshipman?s School at Northwestern University, graduating with Commission of Ensign. Ensign Roush was assigned duty aboard the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Augusta in the C.I.C. Division and served in the European Theater. He was serving aboard the Augusta when it transported President Harry S. Truman to Antwerp, Belgium, and the Potsdam Peace Conference in July of 1945. On August 14, 1945, Ensign Roush married Margaret Schuyler Le Fevre in Delmar, N.Y. She survives. Later that year, he received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy with rank of LTJG in the Medical Service Corps. In 1946, the Roushes moved to Kendallville, where Dr. Roush started his practice of optometry in the Kellar (Spindler) Building on Main St. In 1953, Dr. Roush moved his practice to its current location on W. Rush St. Both sons, Dr. Richard S. and Dr. Robert Alan, later joined the practice. Dr. Roush was active in the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce for many years. He was president of the chamber when it was newly formed in 1955, after having been disbanded for a few years following the resignation of the executive secretary. The chamber was re-organized after a meeting of citizens showed strong sentiment for the need of a Chamber of Commerce in Kendallville. Dr. Roush was the unanimous selection for its first leader. In a speech to civic clubs promoting membership, Dr. Roush expressed that, ?It will be the objective of the chamber to make a safer, cleaner, more beautiful place where businessman, farmer, industrialist, and educator acknowledge a mutual dependency.? Under Dr. Roush?s leadership, the chamber proposed the widening of U.S. Highway 6, and pushed for the purchase of local power by Indiana & Michigan Electric Company in order to make Kendallville a better site for new industry. He became chairman of the New Industries Committee in 1965. Dr. Roush was active in Factory Sites, Inc. since it?s beginning, serving as it?s president in 1969. In 1956, Roush received the Jaycee ?Man of the Year? Award. Dr. Roush also had an interest in the youth of the community. In 1955, he was co-chairman of the fund drive for the Kendallville Foundation for Youth and was instrumental in its establishment. In 1964, he served as president of the East Noble Schools Building Corporation. This was culminated in the dedication of the new LaOtto Elementary School on April 20, 1966, and the new East Noble High School on November 20, 1966. In 1972, he was YMCA Building Committee Chairman and member of the original Board of Directors. In 1980, he chaired the Special Gifts Division of the Save McCray Hospital Project. He also worked on United Fund drives several times. In supporting his profession of optometry, Dr. Roush was president of the Northeastern Indiana Optometric Society from 1954 to 1955, and a trustee in the Indiana Optometric Association in 1975. Dr. Roush was an active member of Trinity Church, United Methodist (formerly First Methodist) since the beginning of his residency in Kendallville. He was chairman of the Building Committee for the remodeling of the church annex for five years. Dr. Roush headed many finance drives, and served on most every commission in the church. Probably his most loved ?service? was that of singing in the Altar Choir, singing solos many times, for over 40 years. In 1951, Dr. Roush was president of the Kendallville Jaycees, and from 1952 to 1953, he was president of the local Rotary Club, in which he was a life member. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge, 32nd Degree Mason, life member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. For many years, Roush was active in the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, performing in minstrel and variety shows. In 1985, Dr. Roush was recipient of the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award for ?unselfish service to his community.? The Roushes moved to Sebring, Fla., in 1993, where they lived until 2006. That year they moved back to Indiana, taking residency at Four Seasons Retirement Center in Columbus, to be close to their daughter and other family members. Surviving besides Dr. Roush?s beloved wife Margaret (Peg) are three daughters, Leslie Jeanne (Richard) Fielding Smith, of Columbus, Marsha Lee (William E.) Cornelius III, of Woodstock, Ga., and Deborah Kay Kautza, of Kendallville; two sons, Dr. Richard Schuyler Roush of Louisville, Ky.; and Dr. Robert Alan (Jane Ann) Roush, of Kendallville. Also surviving are grandchildren, Julia (Roush) McKinney, David and Caroline Roush, Drs. Eric and Kelly Roush, Michelle (Smith) and Mark Ziegler, TSgt USAF Ryan and Ryanne Smith, and Kyle Smith, William IV Cornelius and Taylor Cornelius, Lt. USN JAG Matthew Roush and Drs. Elizabeth (Roush) and Craig Lichlyter; and eight great grandchildren, Katherine Barker, Cameron and Morgan Ziegler, twins Andrew and Anthony McKinney, Cadence Smith, and Charles Robert and Eloise Caroline Roush. Dr. Roush was preceded in death by one sister, Martha Roush, of Greentown; and three brothers, Dr. C. Edward Roush and Gordon E. Roush, of Marion, and a twin brother, James E. Roush, of Clarksville, Tenn. SERVICES: Funeral services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 16, 2012, at Four Seasons Retirement Center Chapel in Columbus with the Rev. Phyllis Hawkins officiating. VISITATION: 10 a.m. Monday until service time at Four Seasons Chapel. MEMORIALS: Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Church, 229 South State Street, Kendallville, IN, 46755.

Robert Roush

May 7, 1919 - July 13, 2012