Dr. Roderick Jason Bartell

1947 - 2025

Dr. Roderick Jason Bartell

October 21, 1947 - September 17, 2025

State College, Pennsylvania - Dr. Roderick Jason Bartell, aged 77, of State College, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 17, 2025, at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, surrounded by his family. He has gone to his eternal home with the Lord.

Born October 21, 1947, in Dayton, Ohio, Roderick, "Rod", was the son of the late Howard F. and Mary Miller Bartell. Rod grew up in Meadville, Pa. Rod worked in various jobs in high school before putting himself through Pennsylvania State University. Always an entrepreneur, Rod founded several businesses. He served as Executive Director of Bartell and Bartell, Ltd. for over 40 years. In 1982 he married Kathy Gordon Bartell.

Rod had a great passion for helping others succeed and was fascinated by analyzing and understanding how organizations worked. He was known for his incredible ability to read others and could often reveal information they might not even know about themselves. He was a founding visionary in the field of Orgopathy, which is the science of preserving and optimizing an organization's health and purpose. He is the author of the book, Before the Call: The Communication Playbook.

Rod earned a B.S. and Master of Public Administration from the Pennsylvania State University, and a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Behavior and Development from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He was also a Registered Organizational Development Consultant (RODC), a distinction held by only 99 individuals worldwide, and a former active member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association (AAA).

Rod played trombone with the State College Municipal Band for many years and more recently enjoyed playing with the Lewistown Community Band. Rod loved spending time writing at his cabin, and the loyal friendship of many canine companions over the years (as well as keeping "his birds" in the backyard too well fed).

In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by his twin sister, Rhoda Bartell; and daughter, Laura Winkelbauer. Rod is survived by his wife Kathy; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jason (Leila) of Boston, Mass., and Nathan (Laura) of Lewisburg, Pa., a son-in-law, Matt Winkelbauer of Allentown, Pa.; and granddaughters Jessica, Sarah, and Rachel Winkelbauer.

Friends and family will be received on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 11 am to 12:30 pm at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College, Pa. A memorial service will follow at 12:30 pm with Chaplain Dave Hersh officiating. Burial to follow at Spring Creek Cemetery.

Online condolences may be shared at www.kochfuneralhome.com