Richard Talbert Roessler's Obituary
Richard Talbert Roessler, 78, of Fayetteville died Thursday, September 21, 2023 at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. He was born in Indianapolis, IN, October 27, 1944. He was the son of Ralph and Katherine Roessler. He lived in Indianapolis, IN until he graduated from high school and then attended DePauw University in Greencastle, IN. He met his future wife, Janet Williams of Fayetteville, at DePauw. He continued his education at Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, CA where he received his Ph.D. in Psychology and Education. He and Janet were married in Fayetteville on June 17th, 1967. His first daughter, Jennifer Roessler Schultz, was born April 23, 1970 in Upland, CA. In 1971, they moved to Fayetteville, AR where Rick joined the University of Arkansas as a professor of Rehabilitation Research and Training.
His second daughter, Kristin Roessler Higgins, was born March 28, 1973 in Fayetteville. Dr. Roessler was on the faculty at the University of Arkansas for 39 years. During his tenure at the University of Arkansas, he received numerous awards including two national awards for his teaching (Distinguished Career in Rehabilitation Education) and research (James Garrett Distinguished Career Award). He published numerous books, book chapters, and articles in the field of Rehabilitation Counseling. Rick retired from the University of Arkansas in 2010 with a long list of accomplishments, including co-authoring the seminal textbook in the rehabilitation field in 1978.
Rick served seven years on the Fayetteville school board. He was also a board member of Sources for Community Independent Living which serves individuals with disabilities in Northwest Arkansas.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janet Williams Roessler; two daughters, Jennifer Roessler Schultz and husband Fred Schultz of Bloomington, IN and Kristin Roessler Higgins and fiancé Earl Scott of Fayetteville; three grandsons, Bill Schultz of Bloomington, IN; Will and Drew Higgins of Fayetteville. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Kitty Roessler of Indianapolis, IN and his sister, Karen Roessler Gray of Louisville, KY.
A service of celebration for Rick’s life will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 29, 2023 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fayetteville, AR. The family will greet friends in St. Paul’s Parish Hall immediately following the memorial service. Private interment will be at Fairview Memorial Gardens under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Butterfield Trail Village Foundation (memo: Healthcare Center Fund), 1923 E. Joyce Blvd., Fayetteville, AR 72703, or Sources Building Fund, www.arsources.org, 1918 N. Birch Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72703.
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