CLAYTON — William Primm “Bill” Rohleder, 83, of Clayton, formerly of Rockingham, passed away Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Transitions Hospice in Raleigh.
Bill was born Sept. 16, 1939 at the Anson County Hospital in Wadesboro, a son of Andrew and Myrtle Primm Rohleder.
He graduated from Rockingham High School where he was a pitcher on the State Championship baseball team and was the starting center on the 1956 Southeastern Conference Champion football team that compiled a perfect 10-0 record, all under Hall of Fame Coach Bill Eustler. He was also voted best blocker by his teammates and received the trophy at the annual athletic banquet.
He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1958 until 1983, holding 14 different ranks from private through captain, spending most of his career as a chief warrant officer, the most respected office rank in the Marine Corps. Bill served both in the U.S. and numerous overseas tours, seeing combat action in the Republic of South Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Marine Infantry Regiment. He also served on the Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown as the executive officer of the Marine Detachment and was involved in the recovery of the Apollo 8 astronauts.
Upon retirement in 1983 from the Marine Corps after 26 years of service, he worked for several military contractors building electronic systems for the Marine Corps. He returned to Rockingham in 2005 and was an active member in the community. He formed Detachment 1252 of the Marine Corps League and served for two years as the first commandant. He was a member of First Methodist Church where he served as an usher and on several committees. He was also a member of the Ledbetter Men’s Bible Class. In September 2021, he moved to Clayton with his wife, Rene.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepmother, Maurice Webb Rohleder; his wife of 41 years, Patricia Smith Rohleder; brothers, Andrew H. III, Milton “Bub” and wife Gladys Conyers, Jack Carlton and wife Betty McKenzie; and his youngest son, Keith.
He is survived by his wife, Rene, of the home; son, Korey of Aylett, Virginia; daughter, Kelly Dixon of Cary; daughter-in-law, Patricia of Mountain Springs, Colorado; stepdaughters, Christine Dean and husband Dwayne of Clayton, Carol Eby of Lexington Park, Maryland, Katherine Julian and husband Richard of Honolulu, Hawaii; four grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; three nieces and two nephews.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Darrell Bowles, the Rev. Allison Farrah and the Rev. Bob Carpenter officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Eastside Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:45–1:45 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Methodist Church, 410 E. Washington St., Rockingham, NC 28379; or to Detachment 1252, Marine Corps League, P.O.Box 2525, Rockingham, NC 28380.
Carter Funeral Home of Rockingham is assisting the Rohleder family.
Condolences may be made online at carterfuneral.net.
