Roth, David Roy (1956-1965)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Aug 5 p. 3

Birth date: 1956 Sep 26

text of obituary:

NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY DROWNS IN OREGON

Salem, Ore. — David Roth, nine-year-old son of Rev. and Mrs. Roy D. Roth, drowned last week while swimming with his brother Luke, 12, in a stream near here. Efforts by the older brother to save him were of no avail.

The funeral was held Saturday at the Logsden Mennonite Church.

Besides the parents and brother, there are three surviving sisters.

The Roth family formerly lived at Hesston, Kan., where Rev. Roth was president of Hesston College.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Aug 19 p. 11

text of obituary:

DAVID ROY ROTH

Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 3, at 10 a.m. at the Logsden, Ore. Mennonite Church for David Roy Roth, eight, son of Rev. and Mrs. Roy D. Roth who died Saturday when he drowned in the Siletz River. Rev. David W. Mann of Albany officiated and interment was in the Riverside cemetery near Siletz, Ore.

The lad was born Sept.26, 1956 in Newton, Kan. and had lived in the Siletz area for the past six years. He was in the third grade at the Siletz school, sang in the Children's Chorus of his father's church, played Pee Wee Little League baseball, and was studying violin in Corvallis and piano with his oldest sister, Veronica.

Surviving are his parents; a brother, Luke; three sisters, Veronica, Becky and Jill, all of Silent; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Roth of Morton, Ill., and Rev. and Mrs. John I. Byler of Elkhart, Ind.

(Following is part of a tribute written by David's aunt, Mrs. Orpha B. Kutnow.)

The response to David's death has been almost unbelievable. During the hour of the funeral service, local business ceased. Large numbers of friends from other churches joined the local congregation and community in paying their respects. Gifts as diverse as the large salmon presented by an impoverished Indian family, and a substantial memorial check from the bank of a neighboring town have been part of an amazing number of floral and memorial tributes.

Coming from the presidency of Hesston College six years ago to the relative obscurity of this small community, the Roth family has poured its vitality and talent into the life of the church, the school, and the community. The development of a substantial and warmly spiritual church, and the growth of several music organizations recognized state-wide for their excellence have focused attention once again upon the results of a family's willingness to go and to be used wherever God would send.