Published: October 10, 2008 10:59 pm         

Daniel A. Roth

DANVILLE — Daniel A. Roth, a lifelong resident of Danville, passed away at 2 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008, at North Logan Health Care. Mr. Roth was born on Dec. 13, 1913, in Danville, the son of Frederick Oren and Pauline Welsch Roth. He resided in Danville all of his life, except for service in the United States Navy during World War II. He served at Guadalcanal, Bouganville, Treasury Island, and the Philippines, and was present at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. When he returned from the Navy after the war, he married Josephine Spoden of Danville on April 25, 1946. She passed away on Oct. 26, 2001.

Daniel and Josephine had two sons, David (Keith Meyer) of Plano, Texas, and Ron (Christie Roberts) of Granite City, Ill., and one granddaughter, Shannon Roth of O’Fallon, Ill. His grandson, Michael, passed away in 2001.

Mr. Roth had four siblings, his older brother, Fred, who passed away in 1998, his sister, Margaret Ann Bernardi (Ed), who passed away in 1963, his brother, Gene, who passed away in 1999, and his sister, Rosemary (Connie) Beightler, who survives him. He is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

A lifelong Catholic, he was a member of St. Joesph’s Parish from his birth until its merger with St. Patrick’s into Holy Family Parish in 1978. Mr. Roth served as an usher for about 65 years, from the mid-1930s until 2004 virtually every Sunday except during his military service.

He attended St. Joseph’s Grade School and Danville High School where he starred on the baseball team. In the 1930s, he and his brother, Fred, were well known local baseball and softball players. He played on a number of championship teams, both at the amateur and semi-pro level, throughout Illinois and Indiana. He retained an avid interest in baseball throughout his life and was prominent in youth baseball in Danville during the 1960s.

Mr. Roth went to work for Hegeler Zinc Company in the 1930s. After returning from the service, he worked in the Maintenance Engineering Department at the VA and retired from there in 1977. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent DePaul Society, NARFE, and was a charter member of the Danville AFGE Chapter.

The family wishes to thank management and staff at North Logan Health Care for the excellent care Daniel received in his final illness.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, at Pape Memorial Home & Gardens, 10 E. Williams St., Danville, IL 61832. A rosary will be at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Danville. Entombment will be in Resurrection Mausoleum. Memorials may be made in Daniel’s name to

Holy Family Catholic Church, 444 E. Main St., Danville, IL 61832. Guest register: www.papemortuary.com.