Frank J. Rohr

Frank J. Rohr, 88, of Columbia, died July 30, 2016, at Columbia Rehab and Nursing Center, Columbia.

He was born July 9, 1928, in East St. Louis, son of the late Armond J. and Beulah Belle Rohr (nee Lant).

Frank was born and raised in East St. Louis. He enlisted in the U.S. Maritime Service at age 16, and traveled the world until December 1945.

Upon his return, he immediately became a railroad worker, where he was employed until he entered the Army in 1950. When he received his discharge from the Army, he went back to work for the railroad for a short time, and began attending McKendree College.

He graduated from McKendree with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 1957. He accepted a job with Alcoa, where he worked as a research staff technician until his retirement.

He met Betty Bouas on a blind date on New Year’s Eve of 1950. Frank and Betty had a long-distance courtship, as Frank was just a few months into his enlistment in the Army.

They married on May 19, 1953, in Grand Prairie, Texas, and lived in Belleville until Alcoa transferred him to its Pittsburgh, Pa., facility in 1976. They lived in Greenburg, Pa., until another transfer took them to Benton, Ark., in 1986.

They returned closer to their roots upon Frank’s retirement in 1994, when they moved to Columbia, just a short distance from both of their children.

Frank was a longstanding member of the Westminister Presbyterian Church in Belleville, where he served in various leadership capacities. He was one of a group who was awarded a patent for a high quality mortar for bonding brick.

He coached his children’s baseball and softball teams, and he was a Cub Scout pack leader. He was a voracious reader, devouring six books a week at his peak. He had an avid interest in current events, and always had an opinion on the issues of the day.

Frank was a godly man, devoted to his wife, children and grandchildren. He was patient, kind and generous. His favorite activities were family reunions.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Otis and Charles Rohr, and sisters Rosemary Smutney and Delores Blue.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 63 years, Betty J. Rohr (nee Bouas); his children, Mark (Terry) Rohr, and Peggy (Michael) Ray, both of Columbia; his grandsons, Alex Rohr and Aaron Rohr, and his granddaughters, Angela Bergman and Kelly Walsh; along with other relatives and friends.

Per Frank’s request, there will be no public services.

As an expression of sympathy, the family prefers memorial contributions to The Kemmerer Village, 941 N. 2500 East Road, Assumption, IL 62510-9706. Kemmerer Village is a Presbyterian child care agency providing residential care for children facing stress and turmoil in their lives.