Gary Duane Rott, born February 2, 1931 in Wishek, ND, died in the hospital due to cancer on November 15, 2014. He was 83 years old. The battle with cancer was short and intense but it paled in comparison to his nearly 20-year experience living as a quadriplegic. An avid outdoorsman and owner of CRC Construction, Gary was crippled in a car accident and relegated to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. However, he did not let his circumstances defeat him. His spirit was resilient and his ability to make other laugh persisted until his final days.
Gary served in the Navy as a pilot in the Korean War flying Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) fighter planes and PB1W reconnaissance aircraft, and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. After finishing his tour, he worked for Convair in San Diego, where he developed and had a partial patent on an anti-skid system for Convair 880 and 990 planes with Hydro-Air. He later moved to Marietta, Georgia, to work for Lockheed-Martin on the C-5A military transport aircraft.
While in Marietta, Gary was also a Justice of the Peace of Cobb County and founder and owner of CRC Construction. His favorite pastimes were duck, pheasant, quail, and deer hunting and he annually made a trip back to his hometown in North Dakota to hunt. He was a longtime member of Roswell Street Baptist Church and helped build and co-found West Cobb Funeral Home.
Gary was the sixth child of Alma and John Cole “JC” Rott. He was preceded in death by his brother and four sisters: Glen, Tennys, Lila, Harriet, and Glennis. He is survived by his wife, Alice; his sons: Steve, Rue Mark, Alex, and George; his daughters: Mary and Gladys; his grandchildren: Heather, Kris, Suzy, Brian, Stephanie, and Telvin; and his great-granddaughters: Maya Jewell and Alma Jade. He was a graduate of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA.
A Memorial Service will be held 2pm Sunday, November 23, 2014 at Roswell Street Baptist Church with Dr. Nelson Price officiating. Inurnment will be 2pm Monday, November 24, 2014 at the Georgia National Cemetery with Navy Honors.
Gary wants you know that he left this world surrounded by the strongest love and support of his amazing friends and family, and his knowledge that God loved him and would meet him soon. He is now in a place where he can be free of the confines of his battered body and can rejoice with his sisters, parents, granddaughter, and all of those who went before him. He wants his loved ones to know how much he appreciated you, how he couldn’t have made it without you, and how you reflected his laughter in a way that increased it exponentially. He also wants his family who live afar – the ones he could not make it out to see in person – that he thought of you constantly and often looked through pictures of you, remembering the times you had together. Those of us who had the gift of knowing him will miss him dearly but are rejoicing in his welcome party in heaven. His body has left us but he remains in our hearts and minds and we will forever keep him close. Please send donations in lieu of flowers to Make a Wish foundation in honor of his beloved granddaughter, Vivian.
The family will receive friends Saturday, November 22, 2014 from 3pm-6pm at West Cobb Funeral Home and Cremation located at 2480 Macland Rd. Marietta, GA 30064.