Paul Charles Roth, born in Norwalk, Ohio, November 13, 1942, died early Tuesday morning in his home in Cleveland. He was in the arms of his wife of 57 years, Jeanie, and surrounded by their six children, Rich, Jim, Marie, Kathy, Pete, and Dave, and grandsons Paul and Matthew.
Paul was a graduate of St. Paul’s High School in Norwalk where he played basketball. On the court, his long arms and legs earned him the nickname “Spider.” He graduated from Tiffin University with a B.A. in Business Administration.
Paul and Jeanie planted themselves in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood where their family continues to grow and thrive. For over 40 years their home was a place where only strangers would think to knock. Everyone else; cousins, neighbors, friends, and kids from the neighborhood knew to just let themselves in. It is a large home made too small by the number of people who love them and who could find love, generosity, laughter, and an open fridge.
Paul made his living as a salesman and later as an independent contractor painting homes throughout West Park, but his life was his family. He and Jeanie worked together to teach their children a deep and abiding faith in the Church. He taught his children how to take pride in whatever work they do, to give generously of themselves to family, friends, and community, and how to sweep the kitchen floor PROPERLY.
He invested himself in the prosperity and joy of his children. Every year he took his family to a cottage at Chautauqua Lake, NY, a place where they could have fun, bond as brothers and sisters, make memories, and play games late into the night. He passed on his and Jeanie’s Catholic faith to their children putting them all through Catholic school. He encouraged his children to pursue their passions and interests and to complete their educations. He died knowing he’d succeeded in his life’s work; all of his children still close to each other, happy in their work, and following his example with loving spouses and families of their own.
He is survived by his loving wife Jeanie (ne. Gerhart); his older brother Donald; his son Richard, wife Linda, children Alison and Paul; his son James, wife Cathryn sons Robert, Nicholas, Charles and Philip; his daughter Marie Houghtling, husband Eric, children John Paul, Mark, Erin, and Julia; his daughter Kathryn Smith, husband Brian, children Angela and Matthew, son Peter, wife Olivia; son David, wife Kathleen, baby daughter Bridget Aoife; and countless nieces, nephews, and friends of his children who knew him and loved him like a second father.
In death he returns to the loving embrace of his father Richard and mother Florence (ne. Brengartner). He is back in the company of his brothers Robert and Charles whom he loved and missed very much. He is finally returned to his grandson Douglas, son of James and Catheryn, who left our family too early.
Visitation will be at Donlon Funeral Home 15408 Triskett Rd, Cleveland, OH 44111, Friday from 4:00 – 8:00. Funeral mass at Our Lady of Angels Church, Saturday at 11:30 am. Interment at Alger Cemetery.