Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran
Otis
S. Romine
SOUTH BEND — Otis S. Romine, 78, of Summers Drive, died Monday in his home of natural causes. Survivors include a son, Ethan of South Bend. There will be no services or visitation. Welsheimer Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Submitted by: Dan Rich
Otis S. Romine
Jan. 24, 1923 - Sept. 3, 2001
South Bend Tribune 9/30/2001 (This
supplements existing Death Notice with full obituary)
The many friends of Otis S. Romine
are invited to attend a memorial service celebrating his life.
This memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7,
in the St. Joseph County Republican Headquarters, 4133 South Main
Street, South Bend, Ind. Otis Romine, 78, lifetime area resident,
died in his home on Monday, Sept. 3, 2001. He was born in South
Bend on Jan. 24, 1923, to the late Otis and Omah (Sensenich)
Romine.
He was married on July 13, 1946, to Joan Burmeister,
who preceded him in death on Dec. 5, 1979. He is survived by a
son, Ethan Romine of South Bend. Otis was a graduate of South
Bend Central High School. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in
1943 and was trained to fly P 38 Lightnings in Florida. Later he
graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in engineering. As a
Studebaker Corporation engineer and designer, he invented the
variable speed windshield wiper and the automatic trunk release.
He played a key role in the development of the Avanti. He worked
at Studebaker until the close of production in 1963. Then, after
other engineering jobs, he became business manager and adjunct
professor of business at Indiana University South Bend. In 1988
he retired after 20 years of employment. He was an avid
motorcycle enthusiast, owning a small fleet of bikes, and he
delighted in taking ladies for rides in the sidecar. He
volunteered for the unpaid post of honorary Guatemala Counsel in
South Bend, visiting that country almost every winter. He always
loaded his vehicle with as many supplies as it would hold for the
poor folks of that country.
Otis was an outstanding Republican leader
for many years, especially in Clay Township. He was Clay Township
Trustee for 32 years and Clay 1-A Precinct Committeeman. He was
responsible for starting the Clay Township Republican Club, and
held numerous club offices.
When the state license branches were the
responsibility of the Republican Party, he incorporated the
unheard of practice of a person taking a number at the branches
and sitting until the number was called. He and a friend were the
first contributors to the Republican Headquarters Building Fund.
Otis was very active in the design of the building and the
planting of the grounds. As County Republican Treasurer for eight
years he watched every expenditure and balanced the books to the
exact penny. He served on numerous candidate committees and ran
for County Surveyor in 1992.
Otis was a great intellect. He knew the
Indiana Code backward and forward. He was full of novel ideas and
had a keen sense of humor. He was a true gentleman. He was
generous, honest, trustworthy, and was a man of his word. He was
one of the individuals who go through life on a slightly
different dimension than the rest of us, and he was a beloved
person you couldn't forget.
Anyone wishing to donate a gift in his
memory may contribute to the St. Joseph County Republican
Endowment Fund.