- Date Of Birth: August 27, 1931
- Date Of Death: October 29, 2014
- State: Illinois
Dr. John Martin Roth, 83, a native of Ashland, IL, passed away on October 29, 2014, at the William F. Green Veteran’s Home in Bay Minette, AL. He was born August 27, 1931, in Springfield, the eldest son of the late John Joseph and Eula (Reiser) Roth. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Virginia (Boyle) Roth; his daughter, Karen (Tom) Belina of Daphne, AL; son John William (Kate) Roth of Jacksonville, IL; daughter, Kristina (Steve) Stone of Mobile, AL; six grandchildren, Jonathan, Katherine and Thomas Belina; Sophie, John Daniel and James Roth; and brother, William Roth of Ashland, IL. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Thompson of Springfield, IL.
Mr. Roth was a 1949 graduate of Ashland High School. He served in the US Navy from 1951 to 1955, attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer as an electrician aboard the USS Askari during the Korean War. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. He went on to earn his PhD from the University of Illinois in 1974. He taught agricultural science in Santiago, Chile with USAID. Later, he worked in Sierra Leone, West Africa gathering data for his PhD thesis on vocational programs in developing countries. His research was funded by the first award to a U of I student from the Midwest University Consortium for International Activities. Most of his professional career was with the Alabama State Department of Education in Montgomery, AL working in vocational program research and development. Upon retirement, he and his wife returned home to Ashland, IL.
He was involved in many church and community activities while living in Alabama, including serving on the Archdiocesan School Board for the Archdiocese of Mobile, AL. He will be remembered for his professionalism in addressing economic inequalities and their impact on the poor and struggling in society. His vision was both passionate and informed. Throughout his professional life, he eschewed the title of “Dr”. The titles which meant the most to him were son, brother, husband, uncle, dad, and grandpa.
Mr. Roth enjoyed nurturing the many trees, shrubs and flowers which filled his yard. There was always a garden in his backyard. During harvest season, no one left the house without a basket or bag of something. Although the man left the farm, the farm never left the man.
