Obituary
William H. (Bill) Roudebush, 89, died of cancer on May 14, 2017, at his home in Mount Dora, Florida. He was born the youngest of five brothers, on January 21, 1928, in Zanesville, Ohio, to Charles H. and Lillie Roudebush. He served in the US Navy as Seaman First Class during World War II, and went on to earn a doctorate in mathematics from Case Western Reserve University. Bill’s career was spent as a research engineer and program manager, first with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), then as an aerospace engineer for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), when NACA became NASA at the start of the space program. After leaving NASA in the 1970’s, he owned and operated a fine art picture framing gallery in Bethesda, Maryland for 15 years, before retiring to Lenox, Massachusetts in the Berkshires.
First married in 1949 to Nancy J. Hartlieb (deceased), the father of David (spouse: Atsuko), Jane (spouse: Bill) , Edie (spouse: Tom) and Emily (spouse: Bob – deceased); and stepfather of Ron, Bill is survived by his loving wife of 17 years, Stephanie, his children, stepson, five grandchildren (Tomoko, Haruka, Akari, Melissa and Johnathon), and two great grandchildren (John Patrick and Nicole). He will be buried with honors at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.
Bill’s warm heart and sense of humor made him truly beloved by his family and friends, and all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.
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