He also was a much sought-after speaker at Alcoholics Anonymous conventions.
Tom S., who celebrated 48 years of sobriety, was a longtime friend.
"There's nothing good that you can say about Lamar that would be wrong. He was the first friend I made when I walked into my first AA meeting. We became instant friends and remained so until his death," said Tom S., who lives in Dundalk and who requested, in the tradition of AA members, that his last name not be used.
"He was a man of great character. He was a great talker and a great family man, and he never missed an opportunity to let you know how much he loved his wife and family," he said.
On July 30, 150 friends of Mr. Roeder's from AA drove to Charlotte Hall to help him celebrate 53 years of sobriety.
"It was a great celebration, and he had a wonderful time," his daughter said. "Every year, the anniversary of his sobriety was the highlight of his life."
Mrs. Mierisch said that her father's pallbearers were to be AA members.
"AA was the biggest thing in his life," she said. "He really had no time for hobbies."
Mr. Roeder was a member of Patterson Park Baptist Church.
His wife of 57 years, the former Annie DuBose, died in 2004.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. today at Duda-Ruck Funeral Home, 7922 Wise Ave. in Dundalk.
Also surviving are two brothers, Robert Roeder of Catonsville and William Roeder of St. Petersburg, Fla.; a granddaughter; and two great-granddaughters.
