Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

Former Garner mayor dies

Don Rohrbaugh, who led this southeast Wake town through years of major growth, died last Thursday. He was 80.

Rohrbaugh, a retired engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation and an Army veteran, was mayor of Garner from 1991 until 2001. Before that, he had served on the then-Board of Aldermen and the planning board.

Rohrbaugh loved Garner, where he had lived since 1974, said his wife of 59 years, Betty.

"It just seemed like a natural fit for him," she said.

As mayor, Rohrbaugh helped lure both the White Oak shopping plaza and a flooring manufacturing company. And he was involved with the development of the popular Lake Benson Park and a nearby golf community.

"He set the wheels in motion for the growth," current Mayor Ronnie Williams said.

Rohrbaugh was diagnosed with leukemia nine years ago. He was an avid golfer, but the disease made him too weak to play, his wife said.

Still, he didn't let the sickness bring him down in many other ways.

Until last month, he continued to announce youth football games. And in September, he threw a big bash to celebrate his 80th birthday, an event he had been looking forward to for years.

Rohrbaugh had planned to go to Knoxville, Tenn., this weekend with some family members to celebrate the anniversary of his graduation from the University of Tennessee.

Through his years of leadership, Rohrbaugh was an advocate for senior citizens. He played a part in building the Garner Senior Center, which opened in 1991. Every Christmas, he delivered fruitcakes to folks there.

"He was so sweet," said Torrey Blackmar, director of the center. "It's about time for them now. It's going to be so sad to not have him around."

Rohrbaugh had hoped some money from a $25 million bond package that voters passed while he was in office would be used to build a community center. That hasn't happened yet.

"I would like to still build a community center one day in his honor," Williams said.