Byron Herbert “Barney” Roll, 74, of Bellefontaine, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2011 at The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, OH.
He was born on May 3, 1937, in Brown Township, Darke County, OH, a son of the late Herbert Ellsworth and Sarah Esther (Martin) Roll. He attended school in Ansonia, OH. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Nevin and Gerald M. Roll, and a sister, Roberta Davis.
Barney is survived by his wife, Darlene Ann (Kramer) Roll, whom he married on June 18, 1998, at Camp Bethany Brethren Church Camp near Nashville, Holmes County, OH. He is also survived by daughters, Janie L. (Denny) Overley of Celina, OH and Kay A. Roll of Knoxville, TN; sons, John H. (Chan Stroman) Roll of Madison, WI, and David B. (Melissa) Roll of Leipsic, OH. In addition, he is survived by grandchildren, Jessamyn, James and Veronica Roll, all of Madison, WI, and Katie and Sarah Overley of Celina, OH. A sister, Carolyn Brandon, of Celina, OH, a brother, Dwight (Barbara) Roll, of Punta Gorda, FL, sister-in-law, Dola Roll, of Greenville, OH, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dan (Vicki) Kramer, of Delphos, OH are also surviving along with numerous nieces and nephews.
He was retired from CenturyLink (Formerly United Telephone Company of Ohio and associated companies), where he worked for more than 37 years. He was a member of the Stony Creek Church of the Brethren near DeGraff, OH, Lions Clubs International, Ohio Lions District 13-E, Waynesfield Lions Club, Lions International Pin Trading Club, Ohio Lions Pin Traders Club, Fellowship of Brethren Genealogists, National Association of Milk Bottle Collectors, Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association, Greenville Elks Lodge and was a former member of the Versailles Lions Club and the West Liberty Lions Club. He served in the Ohio National Guard, was a former member of the Rossburg, Ohio Volunteer Fire Department and served a term as the Rossburg Village Mayor.
Barney enjoyed traveling along with his wife and other family members or friends. He visited all 50 states and some foreign countries. He played Santa Claus at various events in the northern Darke County, OH area for many years. Barney had a sense of family roots and liked to dig into family histories. He also enjoyed military history, particularly the Civil War and World War II eras. He was known for his wealth of information about Brethren history and to give classes on Brethren history at Brethren churches in the Logan County, Ohio area. He was currently serving on the Fellowship Committee at Stony Creek Church of the Brethren. From 2000-2001, Barney served as Ohio Lions District 13-E District Governor and had previously served at the club and zone levels as well. He also served on the Ohio Lions Sight & Hearing/Pilot Dogs Committee for several years and was currently serving as District 13-E Pin Chairman and Recycled Eyeglass Collection Chairman. Barney was proud to report that he had delivered more than 250,000 pairs of recycled eyeglasses to Lions International Eyeglass Recycling in Indiana in the past few years. Barney enjoyed Lions “pin swaps” and attended several around the eastern United States each year. In addition, he was an avid milk bottle collector. He liked to hunt, fish and trap and had a particular fondness for trapping snapping turtles, mostly at Fletcher Pond, MI, where he trapped nearly 2,000 pounds of turtles. On Friday evenings during high school football season, Barney and his wife would travel the western portion of the state, supporting MAC high school football teams in what was affectionately called “The Roll Family Game of the Week”. In recent years, he received the most pleasure from being with family and friends and took particular delight in his grandchildren’s activities.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 17th at the Greenville Church of the Brethren, 421 Central Ave., Greenville, OH 45331 with Pastor Wayne Downing and Pastor Lynn Mercer officiating. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Abbottsville Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Friday, December 16th from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 at the Eichholtz Funeral Home, 321 N. Main St., Bellefontaine, OH.
The family requests that memorial contributions be given to the Stony Creek Church of the Brethren or Ohio Lions Sight & Hearing projects. In addition, a collection box for recycled eyeglasses will be available at the funeral home.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at: www.eichholtzfuneralhome.com
