Herman D. Rotsch, automobile executive

Herman D. Rotsch, 78, of Lewes passed away in his sleep after a long battle with cancer Saturday, July 7, 2018. He was born April 5, 1940, in Austin, Texas, son of the late Cecil and Jennie Rotsch.

Mr. Rotsch was a student at both Tulane and Webster University in their ROTC programs. He proudly served his country as an officer in the U.S. Navy as a helicopter pilot. His duties included flying the recovery missions for the Gemini Astronauts. Mr. Rotsch made his career in the automotive industry as a senior executive with Volkswagen of America and the Chrysler Corp. He was the founder of Vintage Auto Works in Ligonier, Pa., and most recently worked as a sales manager for Boulevard Ford in Lewes.

Mr. Rotsch loved gardening, woodworking, antique cars and fishing. He was the music director of a barbershop choral group called Nautical Sounds, and a member of the Southern Delaware Choral Society. He was also in a barbershop quartet that entertained many visitors and residents of Lewes. Mr. Rotsch was an elder at Lewes Presbyterian Church. He founded an after-school music program for at-risk children at Shields Elementary School in Lewes.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Rotsch was preceded in death by his son Gary C. Rotsch. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Libbie) Rotsch of Lewes; his son George D. Rotsch and his wife Andrea of Wilmington; his daughters: Elizabeth Rotsch Boehnlein and her husband Todd of Hamilton, Va., and Julie Rotsch Matson of Aiken, S.C.; his grandchildren: Gary, Jack and William Rotsch, Griffith Boehnlein, and Anna and Finn Matson; and his siblings: Alice Scarbrough, Ellen Martin and Walter Rotsch.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, July 14, at 11 a.m., at Lewes Presbyterian Church, 133 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m.

Interment will be held at a later date at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro.

Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.

Please visit Mr. Rotsch's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guest book at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.