Roderick Robert Case

Roderick Robert Case died peacefully on 11/8/2025 in Georgetown TX. He was born 4/25/1932 in Toledo OH to Adelaide Mortimer Aitken and Ivan Lee Case. He had two older brothers and an older step-sister. It was a close family, and Rod especially enjoyed a lifelong friendship with his brother Bennett. A childhood illness left Rod mostly deaf in one ear, but that didn't slow him down.

Rod graduated from South High School in Columbus OH in 1950. He studied engineering at Ohio State University in 1951-1952, which was the foundation for his career in helicopter design.

He fell for an older – by 3 weeks! - woman, Lois Mae Patterson Case, an adventurous intellectual, while working as an usher at a movie theater in Columbus OH. They married on 8/15/1953 and enjoyed over 70 years of devotion.

The marriage brought them four children, and eventually five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. They also welcomed into their family everyone their children loved. Their home was often overflowing with friends and family, a happy place for parties and holiday gatherings. Rod's playful personality added a lot of fun.

A very modern husband and father, Rod supported his wife's education and career by being the primary cook in their household and taking a fair share of supervising the children's activities and involving them in his projects around the house. He enthusiastically cheered at many of their swim meets and was an active boy scout leader. After many years of such leadership, he served as the Assistant District Commissioner of the BSA Longhorn Council, which covers 23 counties including Tarrant County.

Rod's career took the family from Columbus to Hartford CT, Melbourne FL, and Hurst TX. He worked for Sikorsky, Kaman Aircraft Corporation, General Electric, and Bell Helicopter Textron. He began his career as a draftsman, and ended as a Project Manager, an expert on Cobra and other Army Attack Helicopters, as well as commercial helicopters and the Osprey hybrid aircraft. In semi-retirement, he was a consultant to Lockheed-Martin.

Following their retirements in the 90s, Rod and Lois spent much more time traveling, exploring every continent, including countries that had just reopened for travel such as China, Russia, and Vietnam. They enjoyed Disneyworld so much that they became official Disney travel agents, and took their grandchildren, two at a time, to Disneyworld every year.

They moved to Sun City in Georgetown TX in 2001 to continue their active retirement. They joined Faith Lutheran Church. Rod volunteered with patrol groups to improve the quality of life and safety for residents in Sun City. Already skilled as a home handyman, Rod took up stained glass as a hobby, as well as continuing his interest in photography.

Rod and Lois enjoyed cruise ship travel more and more in the 2010s, and decided to move to the Wesleyan Estrella because it felt like a continuation of the cruise ship lifestyle. While there, Rod earned the nickname "Cookie Man" because he loved to bake cookies for his many friends. When Lois suffered a mental and physical decline in 2024, the last year of her life, Rod was her most devoted visitor, who brought her peanut butter cups and other treats almost every day. After she passed, his final year was difficult as he went through his own decline. Now Rod and Lois are now vibrantly alive together in Heaven.

Rod is survived by his four children: Randall (Susan); Bradley (Michelle); Scott (Ming); and Lauren Smith. Grandchildren are Michael Case, Lindsey Miller, Ryan R Case, Sarah Morales, and Vivian Smith. Great-grandchildren are Brandon Case, Gunner Miller, Cashlyn Miller, Vincent Morales, and Carson Morales. Rod adored them all.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025 in The Chapel of Ramsey Funeral Home. The family will hold a light reception, following the service, in The Reception Hall of Ramsey Funeral Home.