Obituary of Robert James Rottle

Robert James Rottle passed on to the Lord, January 25, 2006. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara Elway Rottle, daughters, Marilyn A. Rottle and Jacki-joan Shannon (Michael E.); Grandchildren, Heather Shannon Waterman (Josh), Robert M. Shannon (Jennifer), and Jack Isaac Shannon; brother, Charles Wilmot (Mary) and numerous nieces and nephews from the Rottle and Hoquiam Elway Family. Bob’s father Henry Rottle died in 1933 and his younger brother Tommy drowned in the Tenino Quarry six months later. His mother Lillian Wilmot died in 1984. Bob graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1942 where he was Student Body President. He was drafted into the army from Washington State University in February, 1943, where he played football on a scholarship in the fall of 1942. He went through Paratroop Training, qualifying into airborne as a Paratrooper instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia. He and Barbara were married at the Parachute Chapel, October 10, 1943. In May, 1945 he was assigned to the Philippines in the 11th Airborne to train and instruct new recruits and qualifying them for the five jumps to earn their wings in preparation for Operation Olympic, the invasion of the Japanese home islands. Robert Rottle was in the advanced detail of US forces (as an 11th airborne) into Japan for occupational services, the first American troops that went to Japan after the treaty signing ending World War II. He served in Occupied Japan from 1945-1946. When Bob mustered out he had made a total of twenty-one jumps. His brother and best friend, George, a gunner on a B-24, gave his life to the American cause in the European theater, December 1944. He is buried at the Cambridge Military Cemetery in Great Britain. Bob was a Shell gasoline dealer in Aberdeen and Hoquiam from 1948 to 1977. He built and owned the first Self Serve Gas station in Grays Harbor in 1971. He and his wife moved to Olympia in 1977. He became a self employed contractor for service stations until his retirement. He was an entrepreneur of many small business’s, helping them financially and physically getting started. Before moving to Olympia he was a member of the Grays Harbor Planning Commission, a member of the VFW honor Guard and bugler for returning soldiers of Korea and Vietnam Wars. He was Commander of the Aberdeen American Legion Post #5, and one of the original members of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corp. Robert J. Rottle was a devoted family man and faithful worker for the Lord. The family wishes to acknowledge the kindness, devotion and care the Evergreen Rehabilitation staff and the Assured Hospice team have shown. Thank you, thank you all. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 17, 2006, at Calvary Chapel of Olympia, 919 Division Street NW, Olympia, WA 98502, 360-352-4214. His Daily Prayer, “Thank you Lord for one more day to worship You and praise Your name” In lieu of lfowers the family is requesting donations be given to The Assured Hospice Team of Olympia. Taps…for Bob Bob Rottle belonged to the Hoquiam Honor Guard, but never wore the uniform as such. He would know the time of funeral and worked to the last minutes – He had his bugle stored in the lube room of his service station at 518 Simpson. He would grab the bugle jump into his car and race up the hill, set himself behind a bush and wait for the volleys; play tapes and drive quietly down the hill, store the bugle and get back to work, until the next request. Its been told many times the Honor Guard were tense to know if he would get there on time – then they would hear his tires screeching, motor racing up the hill and know he would be in place at the right time. Daughter Jacki-joan would often be in the station when the time ‘to go’ came and she’d hop in too. “The drive was really harrowing,” she told her Mom, “and that was before seat belts were required equipment.” Playing Taps for fallen comrades was an essential part of Bob Rottles life. His consuming work habit was only broken for a request to play tapes for the returning fallen Korean and Viet Nam war heroes. It was a committed homage he could give and he cherished the opportunity. Father-in-law, Harry Elway Sr. would say, “He plays taps like none other I have heard.” Bob played for his funeral and said, “I’m not going to do any others.” But he did…and for brother-in-law Lem Elway’s funeral (1984) and for brother-in-law Harry Elway, Jr. (1995). He did play his last for Brother Jack Elway at Sunset Memorial, January 2002. He said, “this is not legal for Jack, because he wasn’t in the service, but it is my special goodbye to him.” Nephew Stuart Elway asked when told of Bob’s passing, “Who’s going to play taps for him?” The answer: Bob’s grandson, Robert (named after Bob) Shannon. A legacy passed on from Robert Rottle to Robert Shannon.