Malcolm Roessler

1935 - 2021

Malcolm Roessler

Louisville - Malcolm L. Roessler, born July 15, 1935, passed away October 7, 2021, at Baptist Hospital. Born in Louisville, his loving parents, Arthur and Minette, were both schoolteachers, with Minette also playing cello for the Louisville Orchestra. Malcolm graduated from DuPont Manual High School and Centre College, where he excelled in both football and basketball. His Manual basketball team was narrowly defeated in the 1952 Kentucky State High School Championship game, and his 1955 Centre football team went undefeated 8-0, a feat which Centre has never repeated. Centre's 1955 Team was invited to play in the Peach Bowl but declined because the Peach Bowl would get in the way of their studies. Malcolm is in the Hall of Fame at both Manual and Centre. After graduating from Centre with majors in Physics and Mathematics, he took a highly sought-after job at Westinghouse in Baltimore, MD, and moved there with his young wife Janet Roessler (nee Bates) - his high school sweetheart and captain of the Manual cheerleading squad - and their infant son Michael. But he longed for his hometown and moved back to Louisville, where he worked for Ford Motor Company, Kirk and Blum, and then found his lifelong career in the powder and bulk solids handling equipment industry. As Sales Manager, VP, and then President of Carrier Manufacturing, (now Carman Industries), Malcolm traveled the World, flying out of SDF weekly, and working on Projects with Manufacturer's Representatives across the United States, Europe, Australia, and South Africa. He and his long time business partner, George Dumbaugh, started their own business, Vibranetics Inc., which soon became extremely successful and which they eventually sold to Penn Virginia Corp. Malcolm was too young to retire so and he started another business, Roessler Company, a Manufacturer's Representative Agency, which grew beyond Kentucky and to the States of Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. He employed all three sons and his daughter to work with him. He also became part-owner and board member of Baptist Milestone Fitness Center, was a member of the Louisville Quarterback Club & Colonial Warriors, Sunday school teacher, and a St. Paul Methodist Church board member. Malcolm loved to dress and party like a Hollywood star, and always delivered a great joke to make everyone laugh. Forever the life of the party, and with a zillion friends in Louisville, Derby Week was the pinnacle of every year's fun. What Malcolm loved most was spending time with Janet and his family. Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving were celebrated, with everyone invited, at Malcolm and Janet's beautiful home overlooking Big Rock. The merriment would conclude with Malcolm at the player piano, singing, dancing, and pleading with everyone to continue the party until the wee hours of the night. The City of Louisville has lost a hometown hero and a true gentleman. Malcolm is survived by Janet, his wife of 67 years, his brother Stanton of Lexington, sons Michael, Ronald (Denise) of Cincinnati, Daniel (Gina) of Cleveland, daughter Pamela Jones (Curt), his beloved grandchildren Renee, Allison, Andrew, Anne, Rebecca, Coleman, Clayton and Zoey. Great Grandchildren Colette and Harper, and many treasured nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at Ratterman's Funeral Home, 3711 Lexington Rd, on October 14 from 12-3 PM and 5-8 PM, with services at 11 AM on October 15 at St. Paul Methodist Church, 2000 Douglass Blvd, with burial following at Cave Hill Cemetery.