Dorothy Alice Roth

Dorothy Alice Roth, 99, of The Bridge, Ocala, Fla., formerly of Prospect, slipped her earthly boundaries Sept. 20 at the Estelle's Hospice House, surrounded by her family.

She was born June 20, 1917, in Dewey, Okla., and was the daughter of Herbert E. and Clara Black Neely.

As a young child, Dorothy recalled dancing for the oil field drillers and roustabouts to earn pennies to purchase candy. As a teenager, her family returned from Oklahoma to their roots in Western Pennsylvania, where she graduated from Butler High School.

When her family moved to Prospect, she met the love of her life, Merl T. Roth. They were married Sept. 28, 1935, after they had spent time picking blackberries to purchase her $10 gold wedding band. Their honeymoon consisted of an evening at the movies.

Dorothy and Merl operated Roth Milling in Prospect for 35 years. Dorothy was a member of the Prospect Community Women's Club, the former 20th Century Club of Prospect, the Order of the Eastern Star and was a former member of the Presbyterian Church of Prospect.

Dorothy was known for her outgoing nature and her baking abilities. She loved to travel and visited many states and countries, including Spain, Gibraltar, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

Everyone she met was a friend. Dorothy was a member of the Greatest Generation, having experienced two World Wars, numerous war conflicts, the Great Depression and the resignation of a president. She never lost her forward-looking attitude, which was an inspiration to many. In 1970, her husband, Merl, was elected as a Butler County Commissioner and served for 12 years, with Dorothy at his side entertaining, baking, campaigning and hosting various functions. When he retired in 1982, they moved to their “little bit of paradise” in Ocala, Fla., where the lived until Merl died in 2002. Dorothy remained in Florida living close to her sister, Louise, and enjoyed 14 more years of sunshine and laughter.

Survivors include two sons, Jerry (Phyllis) Roth of Prospect and Thomas (Regina) Roth of Pleasant Gap, Pa.; two grandsons, Brian (Barbara) Roth of Bondurant, Iowa, and John (Tricia) Roth of State College, Pa.; one granddaughter, Ramona (James) Rodriguez of Union, Ill.; three great-grandsons, Brendan, Trevor and Devin; one great-granddaughter, Megan; and her sister, Louise Bauder of Ocala, Fla., who was her constant companion and provided her the ability to live into her 99th year.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband; her brother, Kenneth Neely of Prospect; her sister, June Petras of Chicago; and several nieces and nephews.

ROTH — A private family memorial service for Dorothy Alice Roth, who died Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, was conducted Saturday at the Jay Bryan Funeral Home in Prospect with the Rev. James Lewis officiating.

Burial was at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Prospect.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dorothy's name to the Prospect Community Library.