Alan Edward Roth, M.D.

Alan Roth, 87, retired physician, died Monday, February 20, 2023. Alan Edward Roth was born in Newton Kansas on August 22, 1935 to Willie and Della Roth. A farm near Whitewater was his childhood home. He graduated from Berean Academy in 1953 and then attended Grace Bible Institute in Omaha. He graduated from Wheaton College in 1958 and KU Medical School in 1962. In 1958 he married Carol Turner, on his birthday, so he would never forget his anniversary. Following medical school he interned and began his pathology residency in Wichita, completing it in the US Army. He served in the army during VietNam, 1965-1969, and was fortunate to serve in Texas and Colorado rather than overseas. In 1969 the family moved to Overland Park, Kansas and raised their four daughters there. Alan practiced pathology in Wyandotte County for his entire career, first at Bethany Medical Center and later at Providence. For 15 years he was a deputy coroner for Wyandotte County. Alan was an active member of his church, serving in several elected roles and lending his strong tenor voice to the choir where he was a regular soloist. He was on the board of Community Blood Center for about 30 years as well as serving on various hospital committees. The first year Arrowhead Stadium was open in Kansas City, Alan served as a doctor for spectators who became ill during the games. Serving in this role ensured that he saw many inebriated people, those who arrived unprepared for the elements and very few actual football plays. The household Alan and Carol established always had room for more. In addition to their four daughters, they welcomed into their home a nephew, two foreign exchange students, a student from their church, friends of friends and many complete strangers for various lengths of time. After so many years of living as the only male in the household, Alan was very pleased to welcome his sons-in-law to the family as they came along. Alan loved new cars and computers. He was glad that as his daughters grew there was always someone needing a hand-me-down, giving him the excuse to acquire something new. Eventually grandchildren and various others he encountered became the beneficiaries. Alan loved telling good stories, often multiple times. Being both a pathologist and a coroner gave him a unique sense of humor. Unsuspecting friends of his daughters who might join the family for a meal were occasionally caught off guard by the gory details the family might discuss over a casserole. Alan always had a large garden and was instrumental in starting the community garden at The Journey Church in Wichita. Although an abstainer from alcohol for life, he came to love puttering around Grace Hill Winery, helping with planting and harvest over the course of many years. He was surprised to learn late in life that his Swiss ancestors had also produced wine both before and after they immigrated to the US. Alan was a man of deep faith. He and Carol were involved in church life throughout their marriage. They mentored many people, encouraging a life committed to Christ. They took numerous trips to the Oaxaca region of Mexico, participating in various medical outreach efforts. Their missionary friend remembers his successful effort to provide hand-held blood testing equipment as a game-changer. Use of the machines increased the local profile of the missionary effort to the point that even the Mexican government began using similar equipment in some of their projects. Alan was a well-known coffee evangelist. An innocent question about the coffee he brought to church asked by an unsuspecting visitor could result in a well-crafted sermon on the importance of country of origin, altitude, and roasting processes on the ultimate flavor of the coffee and the absolute necessity of a burr grinder. Alan’s one regret was that in all his years he could not remember having ever won a game of rummy. He was predeceased by his parents and his siblings Wilber Roth and Lois Clinesmith. He is survived by his wife and four daughters: Natalie Sollo (David) of rural Whitewater, Colleen Bolthouse (David) of Palatine, IL, Heather Perkins (Glen) of Wichita, KS and Gretchen Harro (Ted) of Palatine, IL, two brothers Dean (Doris) and Lynn (Ruth), seven grandchildren, Jeff Sollo (Allison), Brian Sollo (Rachel), Adam Perkins (Shelby), Cameron Harro (Karina), Elizabeth Bolthouse, Nicholas Bolthouse, Duncan Harro, and three great grandchildren, Harrison Sollo, Isla Sollo, and Avery Sollo. Memorial Service will be at The Journey, 9999 E. Harry, Wichita, KS 67207. Memorials have been established with: The Journey 9999 E. Harry, Wichita, KS 67207; Covenant World Relief, c/o The Evangelical Covenant Church, Mission Advancement, P.O. Box 773420, Chicago, IL 60677-3420.