Rohrer, Clayton (1882-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Feb 11 p. 8

Birth date: 1882 Dec 14

text of obituary:

CLAYTON ROHRER

Clayton Rohrer, son of Benjamin W. and Nancy Lehman Rohrer, was born Dec. 14, 1882 and passed away at his home in Wadsworth, Ohio on Jan. 27, 1960, at the age of 77 years.

Since the death of his wife he had lived by himself. The afternoon previous to his death he had been visited by his daughter, Mrs. Henry Kilmer, and apart from a minor ear infection appeared to be in usual good health. however, during the night he peacefully passed away in his sleep due to a coronary occlusion. He was discovered the next morning by his son-in-law, Clarence Landis, who was to take him to a specialist for treatment of his eye, having had a cataract operation some weeks previously.

His Christian concern for others, his devotion to his Lord, and his loyalty to the Word of God will cause him to be missed by his church, his family and this community where he was born and has spent most of his life.

On Dec. 25, 1906, he was married to Martha Knopp of Columbiana, Ohio, who preceded him in death in 1955. Soon after their marriage the united with the Bethel Mennonite church where they faithfully served, Bro. Rohrer having been ordained to the office of deacon July 27, 1930. This office he conscientiously filled until three years ago when he was relieved of active responsibility due to the increasing handicap of old age.

To Bro. and Sister Rohrer six children were born: Elta [sic Ella] (Mrs. Henry Kilmer), Marjory [sic Marjorie] (Mrs. Clarence Landis), and Melvin, all of this community; Ivan, serving in the ministry of the gospel at Bartonsville, Vermont; Maynard, serving as a missionary at Araguacema, Brazil; and Ruth (Mrs. Floyd Mumaw) of Wooster, Ohio.

He is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren and by his sister Mollie, Mrs. Edward Graber of Wadsworth.

His son Maynard and family, because of the distance involved, were not able to attend the funeral. Word of his father's death reached Maynard at Belem, Brazil, where he chanced to be on an errand and he established contact with the rest of the family by telephone previous to the funeral. Richard M. Kissels, who were associated with the Rohrers at Araguacema, were appointed by the office of the General Board of Missions and Charities to personally represent them at the funeral.

Funeral services were held at the Bethel church on Saturday, Jan. 30, with brethren James Steiner and O. N. Johns in charge. Interment followed in the Lower Mennonite cemetery.