Apparently Attempted Suicide
Principal of Newcomerstown Schools Recovering From Bullet Wound
D.B. Roeder Is Shooting Victim

Coshocton Tribune: Tuesday, June 15, 1965 – D.B. Roeder, 63, of 700 Cross Street, Newcomerstown, Ohio, resigned superintendent of the Newcomerstown public school system, who reportedly shot himself in the left chest with a .22 caliber rifle in the family garage Monday, was recovering today in County Memorial Hospital. The bullet went through his body.

A Coshocton physician, who is attending Mr. Roeder, said his condition is satisfactory and he stands a “good chance of recovering.”

Police Chief John Lawver of Newcomerstown said a preliminary investigation revealed that Mr. Roeder had been despondent over his health and that he apparently tried to take his life.

His wife, Carrie Roeder, a teacher in the Newcomerstown East Elementary School, was ironing in the basement of the family home at the time her husband shot himself.

He is believed to have shot himself around 11:30 a.m. and was found by his wife a half-hour later. Mr. Roeder was first given medical attention and then taken to County Memorial Hospital.

The superintendent reportedly re-purchased the rifle Monday from the Bill Heifner Hardware Store, 108 River Street, Monday. The gun formerly belonged to Mr. Roeder.

About three months ago Mr. Roeder was said to have taken two guns to the hardware store, where he sold both. Yesterday, while in the store, he said he would like to re-purchase the gun so that he could go groundhog hunting.

A Newcomerstown school official said Mr. Roeder, who submitted his resignation to the Newcomerstown Exempted Village School District’s Board of Education last February, effective in August, had been in poor health for some time.

It was his belief, he said, that poor health was the reason for the superintendent tendering his resignation. He also said that Mr. Roeder had sold his home in Newcomerstown and that the family planned to reside in Florida.

Close friends of Mr. Roeder reported that despondency over the fact that he “was leaving the Newcomerstown public school system” may have prompted him to try to end his life.

Mr. Roeder, a native of the Lima vicinity, had been superintendent at Newcomerstown the past 22 years.

A school board member said that Spencer Douglas of Bellefontaine, Ohio, was hired as superintendent of the Newcomerstown public school system after Mr. Roeder resigned. He will begin his new duties before the start of the 1965-1966 school term in September.

Move Roeder To Hospital In Columbus

The Coshocton Tribune: Friday, June 25, 1965 – Donald B. Roeder, 63, resigned superintendent of the Newcomerstown public school system, suffering from the effects of a self-inflicted .22 caliber rife wound in his left chest, has been transferred from County Memorial Hospital to Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, for further treatment.

Mr. Roeder, who reportedly attempted to take his life in the family garage at the rear of 700 Cross Street, Newcomerstown, June 14, had been in the local hospital since that time.

It was learned today that Mrs. Roeder plans to stay at the home of her daughter in Columbus while her husband remains in Riverside Hospital. When dismissed from the hospital, Mr. Roeder and his wife plan to move to Florida, where they have purchased a new home.


Heart Attack Claims
Superintendent D.B. Roeder

The Daily Reporter: Wednesday, July 28, 1965 – NEWCOMERSTOWN – Donald B. Roeder, 63, of 700 Cross Street, Newcomerstown, Ohio, superintendent of schools from 1941, died of a heart attack last night in Riverside Methodist Hospital at Columbus, Ohio. He had been a patient there after shooting himself with a .22 caliber rifle June 14.

Roeder had continued to show improvement since the shooting which was listed by Newcomerstown Police Chief John Lawver as a suicide attempt.

Roeder announced his resignation as superintendent last February 8. It was effective Saturday.

Roeder was a 40-year veteran of school service and was past president of the Ohio Exempted Village Superintendents Association with holding memberships in the National Education Association, Ohio Education Association, Masonic Lodge, Elks, and the Newcomerstown Presbyterian Church.

He was born in Bath Township, near Lima, Ohio, a son of Mary Early Roeder and the late Michael L. Roeder.

Also surviving are his widow, Kerry; a son, Dr. Max Roeder of Houston, Texas, a daughter, Mrs. Frank (Cynthia) Wilamosky of Reynoldsburg; 4 brothers, Dales of Detroit, Eldon and Carl of Lima and James of Mt. Vernon; 4 sisters, Edith of Lima, Mrs. George (Irene) Goll of Stryker, Mrs. Idella Buchanan of Western and Mrs. Arthur (Mary) Sheeley of Lima, and 6 grandchildren.

Services will be Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Chiles and Sons – Laman Funeral Home at Lima with Rev. Ward Holder officiating. Burial will be in the Lewis Grove Cemetery there. Friends may call tonight and Thursday after 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.