Robert Wade Roe Ii

On Friday, September 1, 2023, local legend, Robert Wade Roe, II, age 75, of Tallmadge, OH, passed away and went on to that big field of dreams in the sky. He passed away peacefully and in his sleep, surrounded by family at his home.

Robert was born August 26, 1948 in Ravenna, OH to Robert and Doris (Friedman) Roe. He grew up in Kent and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt high school in 1966. Shortly after graduation, Robert met and began dating the love of his life, Patricia Stager. The two would date for over six years before tying the knot on March 16, 1973 and would go on to enjoy over 50 years of wedded bliss and a lifetime of memories. Robert went to work for Bell Music Co. in March, 1974 and would retire from there in the Spring of 2015 after over 41 years of dedicated service.

Robert was a lifelong baseball enthusiast and fan of the Cleveland Indians. He loved all Cleveland sports and Ohio State football. Since the age of 7, Robert either played or coached baseball and slow pitch softball. Following in his parents footsteps, Robert started learning how to bowl at a young age. He bowled in youth leagues and when he was in his early 20’s, Robert began bowling in the Thursday night classic league at Kent Lanes, which he bowled in for 33 years, amongst other leagues at Kent Lanes and Twin Star Lanes and various tournaments over the years as well, racking up 2 sanctioned 300 games in his career.

Robert played youth baseball in the city of Kent and went on to play in High School for the Rough Riders. As a young adult, with no options for rec league baseball in the area for adults, Robert began playing men’s slow pitch softball. Throughout the 1970's and well into the 80’s, Robert played in various competitive leagues, mainly in Portage and Summit Counties, while also competing in dozens of tournaments throughout Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and other states. He went on to become a local icon for his prodigious power, leading his teams and the entire league in homeruns year after year. He was named to many All-Star teams and won multiple homerun derby contests.

His teams would go on to win multiple league titles, city tournament titles, and dozens of other tournament championships. Robert was inducted into the Summit County Softball Hall of Fame, located in Firestone Stadium, in the fall of 2010.

During a brief hiatus from softball, Robert began helping out as an assistant coach for his children’s little league teams. In 1990, he took over head coaching duties for his oldest sons team, leading them to back to back OABA state title games, culminating in a State Championship victory in 1995. Robert returned to the field as a softball player in 1994 & as a baseball player in 1995 with the Kent Mudhens of the Roy Hobbs league. Robert enjoyed playing baseball for the next 27 years with the Mudhens, Akron Knights, and Kenmore/Eastern Brewers. Teams he played on would go on to win multiple league titles over the years. Robert looked forward to going to Fort Meyers Florida each year to compete in the annual Roy Hobbs world series. He also enjoyed playing the occasional softball game in his twilight years with his two boys and son-in-law. In September of 2021, Robert was honored by the Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame when he was awarded the Golden Clete Award for lifetime achievement in baseball.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia (Stager) Roe; children, Robert, Lisa (Andy) Voss, & Scott; grandsons, Tanner and Parker Roe, granddaughters Georgia & Randall Voss; mother, Doris Roe; Sister Sheryl Kunze; Nephew Rusty (Angie) Kunze and their children Jackson, Ava, & Zander; various other nieces and nephews, and dozens of his “adopted" kids who would loving refer to him as Papa Roe. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Roe.

Calling hours will be held 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory.  Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM Thursday, September 7, 2023, at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory with Celebrant Kevin O’Brien officiating.  Burial will follow at Standing Rock Cemetery. Immediately following the ceremony guests are invited to the home of Lisa and Andrew Voss located at 1360 Timbertop Dr. Tallmadge, OH 44278. A gofundme account has been set up by family to help with Funeral costs please visit the link provided to donate. You can also find the link on all of Robert’s children’s Facebook pages https://gofund.me/171542f2.

Services in care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 West Main Street, Kent, OH 44240.