DATE: Friday, June 20, 1997                 TAG: 9706200600

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: STOKES                            LENGTH:   56 lines

DONALD W. ROEBUCK

Donald Winstead Roebuck, 65, of Route 1 died June 18, 1997, in Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage at his home on June 3.

Donald was born in Greenville July 6, 1931, and grew up in Stokes and graduated from Stokes High School. He attended East Carolina University, where he studied piano under George Perry and received his bachelor of arts degree and a master of science degree in music.

From 1954 through 1956, Mr. Roebuck served in the U.S. Army with the 47th Regiment Band in Ulm, Germany. Following his military service, Donald embarked on his career teaching music in public schools. He spent the last 20 years of that career teaching voice and chorus at Lodi High School in Lodi, Wis., where his annual Broadway musical productions were celebrated. While there, he used the proximity to Madison to continue his piano studies under Gunar Johnson. In addition, he sang with the Madison Civic Opera, including performing the role of Schaunard in ``La Boheme'' and Col. Fairfax in ``Yeoman of the Guard.''

Upon his retirement in 1979, Donald returned to Stokes and took up residence on part of what had been his grandparents' farm. From his renovated farm house, he taught piano to local students.

Mr. Roebuck was active with many local churches, providing music for Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Farmville, for several years. He sang in church choirs in Greenville as well as in his grandmother's Trinity Episcopal Church, Scotland Neck.

About a year ago, he began serving as music director of the ``Community Pop Singers,'' a Greenville choral group whose most recent concert was May 8, 1997.

Donald was recently honored at Carnegie Hall by one of his former students. Tom Wopat, performing with Maestro Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops, surprised Donald with an accolade to him and dedicated his vocal rendition of ``Memories'' to Donald after he was spotlighted in a box surrounded by many of his former students from Lodi High School, all arranged by Wopat. Donald dedicated his life to teaching music.

Donald is survived by his brothers, William Franklin Roebuck and his wife, Olive, of Stokes and James W. Roebuck and his wife, Paula, of Virginia Beach; nephews, William F. Roebuck Jr. and his wife, Sheree, George H. Roebuck III, James Oliver Roebuck and Paul M. Roebuck; niece, Laurie Jennings and husband, John; three grandnieces, two grandnephews; and hundreds of former students, all of whom loved and cherished him.

May choirs of angels sing him to his rest.

The family will receive friends in Wilkerson Funeral Home from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and at other times will be at the home of his brother, Franklin, in Stokes.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Greenville, by the Rev. Tom Midyette. A graveside service will be conducted by the Rev. John Steed Tuesday at 11 a.m. in old Trinity Episcopal Church, Scotland Neck, where his maternal grandparents are buried.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or a charity of one's choice. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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