Rolla B. Finley, Former School Principal, Dies

Health Service Official Who Retired This Year Succumbs At Age Of 69
Rolla B. Finley, 69, former Ann Arbor school principal for 18 years, died at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital Saturday night following a lingering illness.
A principal of both the Mack and Slauson Schools before he became a psychometrist in the public school health service eight years ago, Mr Finley had served in the Ann Arbor school system for 26 years before his retirement last January.
Mr. Finley served as principal at Mack School from about 1923 until 1937. From that year until 1941 he held the same position at Slauson Junior High School.
Prior to making his home here at 2012 Pontiac Rd., Mr. Finley spent 19 years as a senior high school principal in Missouri. He earned his bachelor of science degree at the University of Missouri and attended Ohio Wesleyan for his master of science degree.
Won Columbia Degree
After leaving the Missouri school system, Mr. Finley took a year off to obtain a master's degree in psychology at Columbia University. At the same time, he taught at New Jersey State Teachers' College at Upper Montclair, N. J.
As a health service psychometrist, Mr. Finley aided in conducting tests on children whose school work was below average. Mr. Finley had concluded that many of the backward students were capable of doing the work but were emotionally disturbed.
Mr. Finley helped to establish two "ungraded" rooms at Jones School whose students progressed at their own rate under supervision.
He had undertaken the establishment of a third such room when failing health forced him to retire.
He intended, following his retirement, to live with a daughter, Mrs. Laura Feldkamp in Troy, N. Y.
Native of Illinois
Mr. Finley was born July 15, 1881, in Douglas county, Ill., and was married to Ria Hall in 1910, in Mexico, Mo. Mrs. Finley preceded him in death on Nov. 23, 1949.
Besides his daughter living at Troy, other survivors include a son, Rolla B., jr., of Los Angeles; two brothers, J. L. Finley of Champaign, Ill., and J. B. Finley of Galesburg, Ill.; two sisters, Mrs. E. W. Wiesman of Petersburg, Va., and Mrs. Ida Yates of Jerome, Ariz.; three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 tomorrow morning at the Staffan-Hildinger Funeral Home with Rev. Theodore Schmale officiating. Cremation will follow. Friends may call at the funeral home.