Loretta (Gates) Roth

Loretta (Gates) Roth was born in Newton, Kansas on Mother’s Day, 1933. Her childhood years were spent on the farm in the Newton area. Loretta graduated from high school in Whitewater, Kansas in 1951 and from Salt City Business College in Hutchinson the following year. She married her soul mate Paul (Bud) Roth in 1952. They had two daughters, Debra and Rhonda. Paul died, unexpectedly, of a congenital heart condition in 1955. Her world was turned upside down and a piece of her heart remained broken from his passing.

Loretta was a secretary for the Newton Superintendent of Schools from 1961-1970, when the family moved to Topeka, Kansas. There she worked for the school district before joining Santa Fe Railway Company, in the Real Estate and Contract Department. She also earned an associate’s degree from Washburn University in Legal Assistance during this time.

Loretta retired from Santa Fe in 1994 and moved to Lawrence, Kansas. She loved living in Lawrence and following the KU basketball team (rock chalk Jayhawks!). She did some volunteer work the first year and then worked part-time for the school district in food service for several years. She loved gardening, reading and spoiling her dogs. Loretta was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister and friend.

Loretta passed away peacefully July 13, 2023, while listening to The Old Rugged Cross, a song Bud sang in church many times. We think it was a sign that he was waiting for her to join him.

Preceded in death by parents, Floyd and Mary Gates; and husband, Paul (Bud) Roth. Survived by daughters, Debra (Lynell) Stucky of Leawood, Kansas, Rhonda Roth of Wichita, Kansas; grandchildren, Sara (Kris) Schultz of Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, Paul (Jyoti) Stucky of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa, Chloe (Ben Knott) Roth of Rugby, England, Megan Roth of Lawrence, Kansas; 4 incredible great-grandchildren, Leila, Lincoln, Lennox and Luca; sisters, Arlene Corfman of Newton, KS, Karen (Ron) Sperling of Waxhaw, NC.

Visitation will be from 12:00 – 2:00 pm, Monday, July 24, 2023, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary, Wichita, KS. Visitation will be 4:00 – 6:00 pm, Friday, July 28, 2023, at Warren McElwain Mortuary, Lawrence, KS.

In lieu of flowers, family suggests memorials, in Loretta’s name, to Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, 5445 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66104 or Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19 St., Lawrence, KS 66046.