Herman Roark

Herman Delmar (Del) Roark, age 94 of Paola, Kansas, passed away Friday, Dec. 12 at the Olathe Medical Center. Funeral service will be Tuesday, Dec.16 at 11:00 AM Penwell-Gabel Paola Chapel. Visitation 10:30 to 11:00 AM. Burial Paola Cemetery, Memorials to the United Methodist Church, Paola or Johnson County Nursing Center Men's Activity Group. Condolences can be left at Penwell-Gabel.com. Herman was born April 28, 1914 in Eugene, Missouri to Herman and Stella Martin Roark. He enlisted in the United States Navy during WWII and served on the LST 41 aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. On Dec. 5, 1948, he was united in marriage to Lucy Thompson in Paola. They made their home in Kansas City, Missouri, until 1951 when Herman purchased Durkee's Shoe Repair in Paola and renamed it Roark's Shoe Repair and later Roark's Western Store. In 1979 he sold the business to Jim Queen who moved it to the Price Chopper building. Herman loved horses and in years past could be seen driving a horse-drawn sleigh around Paola on snowy days and giving rides to his friends. He was very active in the Miami County Trail Riders and participated with them in horse shows, trail rides and local parades. He also rode in the American Royal Parade for a number of years. He enjoyed fishing with his good friend, Claude Messer. They took several fishing trips together to different areas of the country. Herman and his wife loved to travel and visited many areas of the United States and Canada. He enjoyed working with his hands and working with leather. Herman was a member of the Paola Country Club and the United Methodist Church, where he served on the Board of Trustees for many years. He was also a member of the American Legion, a past Commander of the Sheldon-Banta Post 3712 of the VFW and had been a member of the Miami County Fair Board. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Marjorie Elmer. Survivors are his wife, Lucy, of Olathe and daughter, Ann Roark, of Paola.