Larned - Robert Eugene Roth, 76, died March 25, 2009 at Presbyterian Manor, Lawrence, Kansas.

He was born May 3, 1932 in Great Bend, Kansas, the son of Eugene Henry and Augusta Patricia Kellam Roth. He was a lifetime resident of Larned. Upon graduation from KU in 1954, Bob entered the US Air Force as a 2nd Lt in the US Air Defense Command. Upon Discharge in 1957 he joined Roth Equipment Company, a retail farm equipment store; where he served as President and Owner from 1963 until retirement in November 1990. In 1991 he became Mother House Administrator for the Dominican Sisters in Great Bend, Kansas until his retirement on February 28, 2008.

Bob's community service in the Larned and Great Bend area included involvement in Rotary Club, the Golden Belt Community Foundation, and the Santa Fe Trail Center.

He served as president and member of the Larned Community Hospital Inc. since 1957, Chairman of the Central Kansas Medical Center Board of Directors, and a member of the CKMC Foundation Board of Directors.

Bob was Director and President of the Western Implement and Hardware Association and served as Co Chair of Straub International from 2001 until his death.

He belonged to Grace Community Church in Great Bend and enjoyed the fellowship of prayer groups in Larned and Lawrence.

Bob enjoyed playing tennis, working in his yard, and attending KU sporting events.

Bob was involved in activities at the University of Kansas. He served as Chairman of the University of Kansas Greater University Fund from 1972 – 1973 and Director of the KU Alumni Board from 1976 – 1978. He was a trustee for the KU school of Religion for 35 years as well as a trustee and member of the KU Endowment Property Management Committee for 28 years. Bob was also a member of the Williams Educational Fund and the Chancellor's Club. He served on the Steering Committee for the Adams Alumni Center from 1980 – 1983, and Administrator for the KU – Pawnee County Honors Banquet for 11 years.

Bob received the KU/Mildred Clodfelter Award in 1988 and the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year Award in 1989. In 1993, he was a recipient of the Fred Ellsworth Medallion for unique and significant service to the University of Kansas. Bob won the KU School of Business's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998, and he was awarded the Paul Harris Award from Rotary International.

On September 11, 1954 he married Rosalee Osborne at Wichita. She survives.

Other survivors include: a son, Richard Alan and wife Richelle, Larned, a daughter Elizabeth Ann Best and husband Mike, Lawrence, sister-in-law, Virginia McAdoo, San Clemente, CA, a niece, Debbie Lohrman and husband Jim, San Juan Capistrano, CA, nephew, Lawrence and wife Diane McAdoo, Lake Forest, CA, and five grandchildren, Mark Best and wife April, Sarah Best, Realle Roth, Ry Roth and Raven Roth.

He was preceded in death by; a brother-in-law Norman McAdoo and a granddaughter Reanna Roth.

Funeral will be at 2:00 P.M. Monday at the Grace Community Church, 210 McKinley, Great Bend, Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery with Military Graveside Rites. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday with the family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Beckwith Mortuary.

Memorials may be sent to the; CKMC Heartland Cancer Center, Golden Belt Community Foundation, Grace Community Church of Great Bend or the Santa Fe Trail Center, all in care of the Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.