Oct 27, 2012

Retired Army Colonel Carl Robert Rotz, 95, of Washington, died Thursday, October 25, 2012, in Washington Hospital. He was born January 11, 1917, in Altoona, son of Ralph R. and Della Hazel Shultz Rotz. Col. Rotz graduated from Altoona High School in 1934 with a membership in National Honor Society. He then completed the advanced accounting course at Altoona School of Commerce and was employed as assistant secretary of Altoona School District until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in February 1942. After rising to rank of staff sergeant, he attended the Army Finance Corps Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Army in January 1943. Subsequent key Army assignments included that of fiscal director first at Deshon Army General Hospital and then at Fort Wayne Ordnance Depot, staff officer in the office chief of finance, U.S. Army, Army general staff duty in the office of the comptroller on the Army, duty as comptroller of a major unified command of the Armed Forces and then as comptroller of a major overseas command of the U.S. Army. He also commanded the Army Central Accounting Office in Washington, D.C., and wound up his almost 30-year Army career serving as comptroller of the Finance Center, U.S. Army Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. During this period, he successively rose through the Army ranks to the grade of colonel, regular Army. His military honors include the award of the Army Commendation Medal, twice being awarded the Legion of Merit of the United States of America, and award of the Distinguished Member of the Army Finance Regiment medal with name inscribed in the Army Finance Corps Hall of Fame. Col. Rotz was a graduate of the University of Maryland with a bachelor of arts degree with high honors. During his military service, he also graduated from Army Finance School, Army Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, Armed Forces Industrial College, Army Management School and Nuclear Weapons Course of the Department of Defense Atomic Supply. Following his retirement from the Army in January 1971, Col. Rotz served as vice president for business and finance at Washington & Jefferson College, until again retiring with emeritus status in June 1982. Always active in community, his local church membership included Trinity United Methodist Church, Peters Township, and then First United Methodist Church, Washington. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of Hiram Lodge, F&AM, Altoona, Scottish Rite of the Valley of Altoona and Syria Temple AAONMS of Pittsburgh. His other memberships included Retired Army Finance Officers Association, Retired Officers Association, Pittsburgh Chapter of the Retired Officers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, 70+ Ski Club and Lone Pine and Nemacolin golf clubs. On September 23, 1942, he was married to Martha McClain, who survives. Also surviving are son, Douglas McClain Rotz (Marie Livingstone-Rotz) of Lake Tahoe, Calif.; two daughters, Karen Bullock (Ken) of Alamo, Calif., and Deborah Lynn Rotz of San Diego, Calif.; three grandchildren, Kristi, Kelly and Keith Bullock. Deceased, in addition to his parents, are two brothers, Gerald Ray Rotz and Dean Richard Rotz. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Hummell & Jones Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington, Thomas W. Hummell, supervisor, Douglas M. Jones, funeral director, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, November 2, with the Rev. R. Keith Simmons officiating. Burial will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township. Graveside military rites will be provided by American Legion Post 175 and the U.S. Army. Memorial contributions are suggested to First United Methodist Church of Washington. Messages of condolence may be left at www.hummellandjones.com.