John Sam Rorer, Jr., 81 of Goshen, Virginia, departed this life to claim his eternal citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven on May 28, 2012 in the Borden Center at Kendal, Lexington Va.
John succumbed to the effects of a vicious form of cancer after a brave and well-fought campaign.
Born in Yanceyville, North Carolina, on October 24, 1930, John was the firstborn to John Sr. and Gladys Foster Rorer.
As a youth, he was raised from an early age in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, near the hamlet of Climax. John completed his secondary education at Climax High School, graduating in 1948. He enjoyed sports immensely, particularly baseball, but like many young men of the day, most of his time was spent on the family farm raising tobacco and in the operation of his father's sawmill.
During the Korean War John's National Guard unit was called into federal service; from 1950 until 1953 he served his country in various stateside assignments. With a desire to continue public service, John received an appointment as trooper with the Virginia Department of State Police in 1954. His training and diverse experiences in duty posts such as Washington County, Bath, and eventually, Rockbridge County, provided him with the basis for strong leadership and accomplishment in future endeavors.
During this time John met the love of his life, Shirley Wilhelm of Goshen. The two were married in April 1957 and prospered together through 55 years of marriage. Two sons were born to this union. In 1959 John became a trucking industry safety engineer with the Mason & Dixon Lines of Kingsport Tennessee, which was one of the great motor carriers of the nation. He spent the next twenty years working in the trucking industry. One of his achievements was to serve as president of the Virginia Highway Users Association. The family made their home for the most of those years in Troutville, Virginia.
Semi-retirement brought John and Shirley back to the Town of Goshen in 1980. John embarked upon continued public service as president and treasurer of the Goshen Volunteer Fire Company and as president of the Rockbridge Mutual Fire Insurance Association. However, it was his service as the mayor of the little town of Goshen that brought John the greatest satisfaction and sense of accomplishment to his fellow man.
Serving as mayor for over twenty years and directing the recent completion of the Town's new $2.5 million water delivery system, he deemed to be the pinnacle of his life's achievements; he loved Goshen and its people, and he continually strove to make life better there.
In addition to his wife, Shirley, John is survived by his two sons, John David and wife, Cheryl of Salem; son, William Joseph and companion, Sandra Cox of Lexington, VA; two grandchildren, who were the light of his life, Rachel Sam and Stuart Wilhelm Rorer of Salem; two surviving sisters, Mrs. Jack Moore (Susan) of Chatham and Ms. Barbara Ann Rorer Cruey of Henrico; highly-esteemed brother-in-law, Dr. Howard M. Wilhelm of Staunton; numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of a life well-lived as a child of God will be held Thursday, May 31, 11a.m. at the Goshen Baptist Church with Pastor Scott Reese officiating; interment will follow in Riverview Cemetery adjacent to the Church. The family will receive friends at Harrison Funeral Home, S. Main Street, Lexington on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 pm. The Rorer family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Carpenters for Christ c/o Goshen Baptist Church, Goshen, VA, 24439 or to the Rockbridge Area Hospice, P.O. Box 948, Lexington, Va. 24450.
Arrangements by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, VA. 540-463-2912.
