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BOARDMAN -- Roderick Allen Hosler (Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired) passed away peacefully at home on Friday, July 17, 2026, following a brief but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born in Missoula, Montana, in June 1948, Rod devoted his life to public service. He began as a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho and Montana before becoming an ROTC cadet at the University of Montana in Missoula. He went on to serve as an infantry officer in the United States Army.
Rod took great pride in his military career. He became an airborne jumpmaster and served for more than 20 years in the active-duty Army and Army Reserve, ultimately retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. After his military retirement, he continued mentoring future generations through Junior ROTC at The Rayen School in Youngstown and later as the primary military science instructor in Youngstown State University's ROTC program.
His commitment to service continued throughout his retirement. Rod volunteered extensively with the American Legion, serving for 10 years as commander of Post 15. He also served as president of the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. Rod also served on the Mahoning County Veteran Service Commission Board for 10 years. He dedicated his retirement to supporting active-duty service members, veterans and their families.
For all his professional accomplishments, Rod's most cherished roles were those of husband, father and grandfather. In May 1979, he married the love of his life, Florence Mary Hosler, nee Dugan. Together, they built a life filled with love and adventure, traveling through life and around the world side by side for 47 years.
Rod was a devoted father to Elizabeth Anne Bush, nee Hosler. Her fondest memories include their many tea parties, snow forts and trips to water parks, as well as reading the entire American Girl book series together. Rod also welcomed Elizabeth's husband, Robert, into the family with warmth and genuine affection, forming a bond built on mutual respect, easy conversation and shared care for the family they both loved. As a grandfather to Anderson, Rod found yet another role in which to share his warmth, wisdom, and love.
Rod was preceded in death by his father, Harold Maxwell Hosler; his mother, Lillian Vale Alkire Hosler; his brother, Richard Joseph Hosler; and his beloved grand pup, Violet.
He is survived by his wife, Florence; his daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, Robert; his grandson, Anderson; his twin brother, Randolph Hosler; his nephews, David Hosler, and his wife, Barbara, and Michael Hosler and his wife, Elizabeth; his nieces, Eileen Morell, and her husband, Joseph, and Anne Hosler; and his beloved sisters-in-law, Patricia Hassett, and her husband, James, Ann Marie Wolfe and her husband, James, and Jean Karl and her husband, David.
Rod will be remembered for his steadfast devotion to his country, his community and, above all, his family. His life was defined by service, honor, generosity and love, and his legacy will live on in the many lives he touched.
Friends may visit from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Davis-Becker Funeral Home in Boardman.
He will be laid to rest later on this year in the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you donate to a veteran's charity of your choosing, or to pancreatic cancer research, in Roderick's honor.
Visit www.beckerfuneralhomes.com to send the family condolences and share your memories.
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