Janice Wheeler Roll

Janice Wheeler Roll passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at her home in Caro, at the age of 80. She was born December 15, 1927 in Stonington, Connecticut, the daughter of J. Alton and Muriel (Langworthy) Wheeler, and sister to Henry Langworthy Wheeler and Phyllis Elaine Grills, all of whom preceded her in death. Janice graduated from Stonington High School, where she received the award for Excellence in Music. She then attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa and earned her Associate of Arts degree. She then attended the State University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Education, did graduate work in Special Education and Music, and met her husband of thirty-nine years, Dr. Marlin H. Roll. Janice then moved on to teach seventh grade at Stonington Grammar School in Stonington, Connecticut, English at Otho High School in Otho, Iowa, Music at Woodward State Hospital in Woodward, Iowa, and Special Education in Tinley Park, Illinois. She also worked as a substitute teacher in Hartley, Delaware and Caro, as well as giving private piano lessons out of her home. She was a member and Elder of the Community of Christ Church in Caro, a member of the United Way Board, a Friend of the Caro Area District Library, and a member of the Caro Rotary Club where she frequently played the piano, was a former Student Exchange Chairman and a Paul Harris Fellow recipient. Her piano playing achievements included accompanying a well known East Coast violinist, Joseph Nania, and playing for a local radio talent show in Westerly, Rhode Island. Locally, she played for several of the Caro Arts Society musical productions and, for many years, accompanied members of the Caro High School Band at local and state level Solo & Ensemble competitions, local Arts Society plays and many weddings. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Marlin H. Roll, Ph.D. on July 23, 1988, who was the Superintendent of the Caro Regional Center for many years, and by her daughter, Tiffany Roll on February 16, 2005. Janice is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Marie Roll of Caro, her oldest son Clark Stanton (Stan) Roll and his wife, MiAe, of Houston, Texas, her youngest son, Paul Wheeler Roll, of Caro, her grandson, son of Elizabeth, Toby Lee Roll of St. Petersburg, Florida and her granddaughter, daughter of Elizabeth, Heidi Ann & Ernest Lewis of Marietta, Georgia, and great granddaughter Sierra Stentz of Marietta, Georgia.