Paul ROHRER

ROHRER, Rear Admiral Paul W., 86, retired Deputy Director, Naval Reserve, Office of the Chief of Naval Personnel, died on December 26, 2011 at his home in Chesterfield, Va. RADM Rohrer enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March of 1943. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1947, and attended Officer Training, WWII NROTC in 1945-1946. He received his commission in June of 1946. He received a Master of Arts in Government from Georgetown University in 1950. During his Naval career he was the Commanding Officer of four ships (USS LSM 238, USS BEAUFORD, USS SHIELDS, and USS GREAT SITKIN). RADM Rohrer served as Assistant Naval Attach‚, U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, Japan, Commander Destroyer Squadron 34 (NRF) and Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel, Naval Reserve. After retiring, he had a successful career as a Training Manager for HBH Company and a conservative columnist and political commentator for several newspapers around the country. RADM Rohrer grew up in Milwaukee, Wis. He met his wife of 41 years, Sarah West Taliaferro, in 1943 and they were married on June 12, 1954 at the Post Chapel, Maginot Caserne, Verdun, France. They resided on their farm in Rapidan, Va. RADM Rohrer's beloved wife, Sarah, died in 1995. He is survived by his sisters, Mrs. Margie Kowske of Mequon, Wisconsin and Mrs. Jean R. Gerblick of McLean, Virginia; one son, Mr. John M. (Jack) Rohrer; and two grandchildren, Sarah Ann Rohrer and William Alexander Rohrer. The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 7, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Chesterfield Chapel of the Bennett Funeral Home, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Interment will be at 3 p.m. in Graham Cemetery in Orange, Va.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.