Nathaniel C. Roe
Nathaniel C. Roe, 95, of Washington, went to be with his Savior and Lord, Wednesday, August 1, 2018.
He was born December 18, 1922, in Goshen, N.Y., a son of the late Thomas Beech Roe Jr. and Margretta Farley Roe.
Growing up on a dairy farm, he graduated from Chester High School in 1940. Early, at a summer conference in 1939, he heard the call of God to serve as an agricultural missionary. In fall 1941, he enrolled at Cornell University in order to study agricultural engineering, where he also participated as a member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. With the entrance of the United States into World War II, Nathaniel became part of the 94th Division in the 302nd Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to master sergeant and was decorated with a Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge for his military service in Europe.
Upon returning home, he resumed his studies by completing his bachelor’s degree at Cornell University and a degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1950. He and his wife, Muriel, served together in Cameroon from 1951 to 1959 as Presbyterian missionaries, proclaiming the Gospel and teaching rural development. During that time, he also completed a master’s degree in New Testament studies at Princeton Seminary in 1955. Returning from Cameroon, he was assigned as a missionary to India, where he served for nearly six years as a district superintendent, based in the city of Miraj.
Returning home, he received a call to serve Washington Presbytery as its general presbyter beginning in 1966, consulting and working with 87 Presbyterian churches in Washington and Greene counties, until his retirement in 1989. He also participated in ecumenical relationships with the founding of Christian Associates, representing Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox traditions in Western Pennsylvania. During this time, he would be recognized by Waynesburg College with a doctor of divinity degree in 1978.
During his life in Washington, he served as an active member of Rotary Club and Sons of the American Revolution. Throughout his life, he was also a beekeeper and a master craftsman woodworker.
As a faithful servant of God, Nathaniel loved to speak of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. In witness to that grace, he shared his stories of how his Lord blessed him through growing up on a dairy farm to his experiences around the globe and to his long life of service in Western Pennsylvania.
Surviving are three sons, Daniel (Sandy) Roe of Bellefonte, David (Jackie) Roe of Grand Haven, Mich., and Thomas (Barbara) Roe of Stoughton, Wis; two daughters, Nancy (Gary) Kagarise of Westerville, Ohio, and Martha (Skip) Noftzger of Waynesburg; 16 grandchildren, Jenny Kenderski, Daniel Kagarise, Elizabeth Lang, Mary and Anna Roe, Jessie, Eliza, Audra, Caleb and Aaron Roe, Ben and Tim Noftzger and Jacob, Katie, Owen and Clea Roe; and four great-grandchildren.
Deceased are his sister, Katherine “Kate” Williamson; brother Reynolds “Bud” Roe; both of his former wives, Muriel Osgood Roe, to whom he was married from 1949 until her death in 1998 and Grace Vierling Wilson Roe, to whom he was married from 1999 until her death in 2017.
Friends will be received from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington. Interment will be private. A service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 4, in Church of the Covenant, 267 East Beau Street, Washington, PA 15301, with the Rev. Stuart D. Broberg and the Rev. Craig Kephart officiating. Memorial contributions may be directed to Church of the Covenant Mission Fund at the above address, or to Washington City Mission, 84 West Wheeling Street, Washington, PA 15301 or at www.citymission.org.
Condolences may be expressed at www.piattandbarnhillfh.com. Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors Inc., Charles R. Piatt, owner/supervisor, and Lawrence K. Donovan, director.