ROEHLL, Walter

ROEHLL, Jr.,

Dr. Walter H.

Jan. 24, 1929 – Dec. 23, 2020

Philanthropist, Passionate, and Proud are just three words out of thousands to describe this

respected physician that has left a huge void in many lives.

Dr. Roehll cared for many patients, had lifelong friends, and adored his family. He was so special he had two birthdays which he had to celebrate on both days, January 24 and

January 27.

Second generation physician, following his father's footsteps into the medical field, Dr. Roehll received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. He walked the halls of

Cincinnati General Hospital during his residency and internship. Afterward, he served two years as a Captain at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. He then completed his training with a fellowship at Duke University Medical Center.

Born in Middletown, Ohio, to Dr. Walter and Catherine (Clifford) Roehll. He graduated in the class of 1947 at MHS. While attending Miami University, he met the prom queen of his dreams and future wife Mary Lou Jackson. They were

married in 1951 and with the support of her teaching, he was able to finish his education, pursue a family and reach his goal of becoming a doctor.

In 1962 he started a practice with his father, the Middletown Medical Center which is still in operation today. He joined the Medical Staff at Middletown Regional Hospital specializing in Internal Medicine at the same time. In 1983, he decided it was time to develop a better treatment for heart patients and

became the Director Non-Invasive Cardiology and Director of Cardiac Rehab. In 1986, he left the group and opened his solo practice in Middletown specializing in Cardiology. He retired in 2016 with more than 50 years in his medical profession at the age of 87. His accolades could go on forever.

Fellow American College of Internal Medicine, Fellow of American College of Cardiology, member of the American

Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the Heart Failure Society of America and Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Society, Past President, Chairman and Life Member of the American Heart Association, Chairman and Founder of Middletown Area Survival Heartbeat (MASH) which trained others in CPR. Roehll's goal was to have everyone in Middletown (and in the whole world in his eyes) knowledgeable in CPR, the placements of portable defibrillators in airports and public places in hopes to increase the survivability of heart patients. Ironically, it was his own heart that took him from this world.

Roehll (lovingly called by his family and friends) enjoyed his hobbies too. Golf, tennis, cross-country skiing, running, gardening (loved to talk about his plants), and music. He served as a Board member of the Middletown Symphony Orchestra and once was the guest conductor directing the musicians to his favorite song "Chariots of Fire".

He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters Betty Kenrich and Janet Cockman, brother-in-law Ed Cockman and his loving wife of 66 years Mary Lou Jackson Roehll.

He leaves behind 2 daughters Debi Lynes (Mike) whom he shared their home in Hilton Head and Lori Goodridge-Cribb (David) also in Hilton Head; two sons John Roehll (Mindy) of Mesa, AZ, and Geoff Roehll (Jan) of Naperville, IL; grandchildren Brandon Runyan (Kat) who followed into the medical field, Kiki Patsch (Gregor) and Mollie Kinard (Brian), Ashley Whitmire (Derek) and Brittany Vitters (Jeff), Christopher and Nicholas Roehll, Ali and Spencer Roehll; great-grandchildren Hudson, Brooke, Larkin, Nellie Patsch; Ronan, Isla, Stellan, Wolf Runyan; Clementine and Cash Kinard; Emily Vitters and Kinsley Whitmire; brother-in-law John Kenrich of Cincinnati; several nieces and nephews; his best friends Bill & Pat

Schaefer and Virgil Maines; and many of his patients, whom he became friends with and shared phone calls, text messages and emails until his last day. The last few weeks of his life he caught up with friends he lost contact with over the years which put a smile on his face saying, "I am glad we both

remember each other's names". There are hundreds of

people in Middletown, Ohio, that can share so many stories about this man. The hole is huge.

The family would like to thank special niece Cathy Paine for the love and care of Mary Lou and Roehll and special nephews Michael and Brian Paine for being "just around the corner". A thank you to the crew at Atrium Medical Center Cardiac Center for being part of his world and working beside him in creating such a superb department. Thank you to Dr. Mark Lawton in Hilton Head and Dr. Bill Abraham of OSU for not only taking care of him, but being a good friend. Last but not least, Tracy Snelling for being with him since 1986 when he decided to create a new adventure of solo practice at age of 57. He called her his "right-hand, left-leg" girl. The two of them had their fair share of shenanigans, April Fool pranks, daily trivia questions all while making Roehll Cardiology the best office in Middletown and staying with him until his end.

Private services will be held with family in Hilton Head. Entombment will be in the National Cemetery of Beaufort, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, send donations in his memory to: American Heart Association, 5211 Madison Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45227 or Atrium Medical Center Foundation Attn: Roehll Endowment, One Medical Center Dr. Middletown, OH 45005.

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