Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 1/11/2006

Clarence E. Rovenstine

May 29, 1914 -- Jan. 9, 2006

Clarence Eugene "Gene" Rovenstine, 91, of 1700 Waterfall Drive, (The Heritage House) in Nappanee, Ind.

He died at 3:07 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9, in Miller's Merry Manor, Plymouth.

He was born on May 29, 1914, in Atwood, Indiana, to the late Cassius and Lulu (Massena) Rovenstine. Three brothers, Jack, Joe and Tim Rovenstine, a granddaughter, Jill Carpenter, and a great-granddaughter, Madelyn Eads, also preceded him in death.

He moved to Miller's Merry Manor in November 2005. He previously lived at Heritage House Assisted Living, Nappanee. After retiring, Gene and Doris lived in various places in Florida for approximately 30 years, even teaching school a couple of years while in Florida. Gene and his wife started an antique business buying and selling antiques. He also built, owned and operated the Comet Theatre in Bourbon in addition to being a school teacher. They lived in Bremen after their time in Florida, but still spent winters in Florida until about five years ago. They also spent a couple of winters in Arizona. Prior to moving to Florida, they resided in Bourbon, where he taught school.

Gene graduated from Wabash College in Crawfordsville in 1935 where he was a star basketball player and had the honor of being named to the 1935 All-State College Basketball team. He was a school teacher for 35 years and a former high school basketball coach. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Bremen, a 32nd Degree Mason, a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge in Bourbon and later Plymouth, member of the Fort Wayne Valley of the Scottish Rite and the Mizpah Shrine Temple, and member of the Delta Tau Fraternity. He enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting and bowling. He liked spectator sports and watching sports on TV. He was an avid reader, excellent crossword puzzle solver and liked to play cards. He also enjoyed traveling and traveled to many places in his life, including a trip around the world in 1977.

On May 1, 1937, in Lafayette, Ind., he married Doris May Ward. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Doris May Ward Rovenstine; three daughters, Rosemary (Richard) Stutzman of Crawfordsville, Ind., Ritha (Roger) Thayer of Argos, Ind., and Roberta (Steve) Mann of Osceola, Ind.; grandchildren, Tod (Marcy) Stutzman, Belinda (Jeff) Hartzler, Robin (Chris) Davidson, Pamelyn (Todd) Eads, Jennifer (Dustin) Silva, Michael (Lisa) Mann and Matthew Mann; great-grandchildren, Lauren, Preston and Marlynne Stutzman, Audrey and A.J. Hartzler, Griffyn and Quentyn Carpenter, Braydon and Christin Davidson, Matalie, Nicole and Nathan Mann, and Caroline Eads.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Grace United Methodist Church in Bremen, with Pastor William Garver officiating. Burial will be at Bremen Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today, Jan 11, 2006, in the Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen, where a Masonic service will be at 7:30 p.m. today.

Memorials may be made to the Jill Carpenter Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Marshall County Foundation or to the Centers for Hospice.

The Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen, is assisting the family with arrangements.