It was my great pleasure to visit Earl on five different occasions. He was one of the nicest people I've ever met. He was a gentleman who possessed encyclopedic knowledge of the history of the battle, a great love of the valley, and an incredibly sly sense of humor.
Earl held court in his parlor receiving the famous and the rest of us with warmth, hospitality, and genuine charm.
He will be missed, and fondly remembered by an incalculable number of people who's lives he made brighter.
Mannie
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Obituary from the Herald Mail
Robert E. Roulette, 88
NOV. 17, 1919-OCT. 9, 2008
SHARPSBURG - Robert Earl Roulette, 88, of Sharpsburg, died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008.
Born, Nov. 17, 1919, in Sharpsburg, he was the son of the late John Walter and Myrta Irene Snavely Roulette.
He was a 1936 graduate of Boonsboro High School and a graduate of Columbia Business College.
He was a self-employed farmer for more than 40 years.
He was a member of Christ Reformed Church United Church of Christ of Sharpsburg.
He was the treasurer of Mountain View Cemetery Association of Sharpsburg.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Annabelle Emmert Roulette of Sharpsburg; two daughters, Suzanne R. Nalley of Sharpsburg and Joanne R. Happ of Clearbrook, Va.; one sister, Louise R. DeLauder of Hagerstown; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Charlotte Davis and Anna Pitzer; and three brothers John Roulette, Charles Roulette and Frank Roulette.
Services and burial will be private and at the convenience of the family in Mountain View Cemetery, Sharpsburg.
The family request the omission of flowers. Memorial donations may be made to Christ Reformed United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 503, Sharpsburg, MD 21782.
Arrangements are by Osborne Funeral Home, Williamsport.
3 comments:
I had the pleasure to spend some time with Earl on my trips to Sharpsburg over the past several years. As Manny attests, Earl was a wealth of knowledge about the area. And he had a wicked sense of humor! He was a fine, fine person, and I will always remember our visits.
Earl indeed was a good man. Lauren met him first in 2000, introduced by Paul and Joanne Breitenbach. Later that year I met him for the first time and was charmed by the farmer who knew everyone and had the wonderful ties to Sharpsburg and the Battle of Antietam through his great grandfather. Being a CW re-enactor I was spellbound by his stories and the artifacts found while he tilled his fields. He was very proud of all of it. When anyone wanted to write about the battle, they came to him. He also had a great sense of humor. Every visit to Sharpsburg(and there were many) was not complete until we went to see Earl. And each time he would show or tell us something new.
Birdseed weekends were a real treat, when many came to gather to talk and get the seeds Earl would order for them.
We introduced other friends who also came away with the same appreciation of this gracious and witty man.
He will be sorely missed. Sharpsburg will not be the same without him.
Jim Tuk
Lyndonville NY
A great American patriot! May he rest in eternal peace in God's presence. I bet he's having some great conversations with veterans of the battle as we speak.
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