Cecil Casper Roth

Cecil Casper Roth

Cecil Casper Roth, age 66, of Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, Georgia passed away Thursday, August 14, 2014 at his residence following a long and courageous battle with cancer, throughout which his strength and optimism was an inspiration to all. Born in Hays, Kansas on December 23, 1947, he married Linda Welty on November 24, 1979.  Cecil was raised on a farm, the son of the late Cecil Joseph Roth and Hermina Schmidtberger Roth. He graduated from Fort Hays State University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. Upon graduation he joined IBM and was trained to be a programmer at the forefront of the country’s information technology revolution.  As a programmer and later a senior program manager, he helped shape the country’s technology infrastructure:  from his earliest job at the Pentagon, to the country’s early FAA air traffic control system, to NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, and the country’s Space Defense Operations Center, or SPADOC.  Following a distinguished career with IBM, Cecil joined Perot Systems and became instrumental in systems integration within the country’s banking industry as it consolidated.  When he and his wife, Linda’s careers took them overseas, he oversaw systems integration projects across Germany, the U.K. and the Middle East.   Cecil was a strong advocate of Linda’s career as well, often moving to accommodate her career advancement.

Cecil possessed a zest for life, a passion for adventurous travel, for gourmet cooking, fine food and wine, and fast cars.  He loved music and the arts, with a natural talent for design and photography.  Cecil’s passion for technology extended into his retirement, and kept him on the bleeding edge of all things electronic.  He loved problem-solving and could always apply the latest in technology to his solutions, be they in the kitchen, his art, home electronics, or the design of one of the many homes Cecil and Linda built.  Cecil had a natural warmth and an unpretentious, genuine curiosity about people, which made engaging with friends or strangers natural and easy.  With his quick wit, he could inject fun and humor into any situation with his unforgettable laugh and smile.  In spite of his illness, with his positive energy, he defied the odds for many years, continuing to travel the globe with Linda, sometimes including family and friends, and typically off the beaten path.

In addition to his loving wife, Linda, he is survived by two children with his former wife, Sharon Thompson:  Todd Roth and his wife Lara, Rachel Sherman and her husband Darrel; a sister, Donna Gartin; two brothers, Harold Roth and Terry Roth; and 5 grandchildren, Ben, Will and Sam Sherman and Sofia and Luke Roth.

A tribute and celebration of Cecil’s life will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the Barn at Crooked Pines Farm located at 355 Harmony Road, Eatonton, GA  31024. In lieu of flowers, Cecil has requested donations be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, or PANCAN at http://www.pancan.org/ or to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, http://cholangiocarcinoma.org/.. McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of arrangements. Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.

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