Harold Meyer Rodenberg

CENTERVILLE, Ind. – Harold Meyer Rodenberg, age 89, formerly a Centerville resident, recently a resident of Forest Park Health Campus, died Friday, May 15, 2009, at Reid Hospital. Born July 4, 1919, in Milton, Indiana, to Jesse Grover and Flora Alice Burch Rodenberg, he was raised on a farm near Milton and was a life-long resident of Wayne County. Harold was a 1937 graduate of Milton High School, which gave him an excellent and very broad educational opportunity for a small town. He graduated in 1941 from Purdue University, where he studied accounting and economics. Harold was a member of the ROTC while attending Purdue. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Persia and Germany during World War II. Harold then served in the Army Reserves a number of years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. After active duty, he attended Indiana University and received his Masters of Business Administration. Harold worked at the Wayne County Farm Bureau from 1954 until 1981 when he retired. Prior to that, he worked at the Newton County Farm Bureau for five years. Harold was a member of the Pershing United Methodist Church and recently joined the Centerville United Methodist Church. He was on the Kuhlman Center Board, a member of Richmond Lions Club managing the grapefruit sales for several years, and a board member of Dunn Mental Health. He gave the weekly farm report on WKBV. Survivors include his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Smith and her husband Kevin of Centerville; son, Dr. David Alfred Rodenberg and his wife Vicki of Peoria, Illinois; three grandchildren, Clayton Smith and his wife Michelle, Gretchen Davis and her husband Ben, and Jonathan Rodenberg; great-grandchildren, Jackson Davis, Audrey Davis, Preston Gault, Madelyn Gault and a new great-grandchild expected soon; brother, Wilbur L. Rodenberg of Richmond; nieces; and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Betty Louise Rodenberg, who died September 26, 1992; brother, Melvin Rodenberg; and one great-grandson. Visitation for Harold Meyer Rodenberg will be from 4 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 18, 2009, at Mills Funeral Home, 405 East Main Street, Centerville. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at Mills Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Land officiating. Entombment will be in the Shrine of Memories Mausoleum in Connersville. Memorial contributions may be made to: Easter Seals for Wayne County, P.O. Box 86, Centerville, IN 47330-0086 or the Richmond Noon Lions Club for the Optical Program, c/o Don Sanford, P.O. Box 11, Boston, IN 47324. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Harold Meyer Rodenberg

July 4, 1919 - May 15, 2009