Douglas J. Roof

ROOF, Douglas Jay Douglas Jay Roof, 65, of Indianapolis was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Preble County, Ohio, July 19, 2012. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He and his sister, Anne Koeller, 60, of Eaton, Ohio, a passenger in Doug's car, were enroute to a memorial service in Brookville for a childhood friend, Richard Good, who died July 3. Doug and Dick had been close friends since kindergarten in Trotwood, Ohio. (Doug's sister was listed in critical condition at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, Ohio.) Doug had reduced his workload in the last few years following a nearly 40-year career in Indiana helping disadvantaged people improve their quality of life largely through employment and job training programs which included service as a counselor with River Valley Resources in Madison, president of the Indianapolis Private Industry Council and as Director of the Indiana Office of Workforce Development. Doug began his career as a VISTA volunteer in Alabama and Montana. He was also Director of the Career Corner, a program of the John H. Boner Community Center, Indianapolis. Most recently he worked as an employment development counselor for JobWorks in Indianapolis. Doug battled MS all his adult life. He received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the Indiana governor for his contributions to "Hoosier" heritage. Doug is a 1968 graduate of the Defiance College and a 1964 graduate of Trotwood-Madison High School. He is survived by two children, Ana Zekants, 38, Toowoomba, Australia, and grandchild Nara, 2 as well as son-in-law, Damien; Joshua, 35, of Indianapolis and three grandchildren, Morgan, 11, Wyatt, 8 and Sage, 5, as well as daughter-in-law, Annie; a brother, Bill, Round Rock, Texas, and sister-in-law, Bobbi; sister, Anne Grant Koeller, Eaton, Ohio, and brother-in-law, Jim; and a half-brother, Jim Roof, Littleton, Colo., and a host of nieces and nephews. A son, Hadley, Indianapolis, preceded Doug in death at 21 in 2001. Doug is survived by grandson Jacob Sumner, 12, Brownsburg, Indiana, Hadley's son. Doug was also preceded in death by his father, Elgin in 1965 and mother, Dorothy, in 1980, both of Trotwood, Ohio. Following cremation under direction of Rogers Funeral Home, New Lebanon, Ohio, a memorial service will be held July 28 at the John H. Boner Community Center, 2236 East 10th St. Indianapolis, IN 46201, An open house will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. with the service to begin at 3 p.m. Donations to Doug's memory and work may be made to the John H. Boner Community Center.