Final Salute

COKER, Roger T., age 87, of Waynesville, passed away Monday, March 6, 2023, at Otterbein Senior Living in Lebanon, where he had lived with his wife, Joanne, since May 2020.
Roger honorably served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1956. He was initially a member of the 82nd Airborne and later served in the Transportation Corps. From the late 60s through 1979, he served our country in the United States Navy Reserves as a member of the Construction Battalion, better known as the Seabees. Roger was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 615 in Waynesville and Post 394 in Russellville, Ohio. A lasting influence of his military service was his pride in his appearance. Not many men iron their jeans, creasing each pant leg meticulously! Roger thought he was the only person who could do this the way it should be done!
Following his time in the Army, Roger returned to his birthplace in northern Florida. There he eventually pursued a career as a journeyman in the printing industry. Searching for a better paycheck, Roger moved his family to Ohio in the mid-60s. There he used his skills working for the Columbus Dispatch. He worked 2nd shift, giving him daytime hours to start an apartment maintenance business on the side. While working for Cam Taylor Realty in Bexley, Ohio, he grew his business also to include doing maintenance and remodeling for home and business owners. Many friends and family members benefited from Roger’s construction skills and knowledge through the years.
Roger married Joanne Anderson on June 25, 1977. In September 1980, Roger and his wife, Joanne, traveled to Waynesville, Ohio, “the Antiques Capital of the Midwest,” to purchase a dining table. They bought a table, but they also purchased a house on Main St.! Their thoughts on how to live their lives had changed following Roger’s life-threatening surgery the year before. They both loved ‘old things’ so they opened The Coker Collection of Antiques and Collectibles! For nearly 25 years, Roger and Joanne enjoyed meeting and greeting the many visitors to Waynesville, several becoming lifelong friends. They enjoyed taking day trips as well as longer ‘working’ vacations to find antiques and collectibles to sell. They also became known for their work restoring the furniture of their customers. Roger became the ‘go to’ guy in town for furniture repair and restoration, and Joanne replaced the cane and splint in hundreds of chair seats. Roger especially loved taking a chest covered in several layers of paint or a cupboard delivered in pieces and restoring them to their original beauty!
Roger worked for many residents in the Village as well as for the business owners on Main St. as a contractor repairing, remodeling, and renovating many of the old buildings in the business district. In addition, he built the antique shop, his workshop on his property, and a couple of buildings on Main St. One evening, not too long ago, Roger and Joanne reminisced about the work Roger had done on Main St. during their time living there. They figured that Roger had helped owners restore and improve the function and appearance of at least thirty buildings in the historical district during his time in Waynesville. Roger’s proudest moment, however, was when Dick and Linda Hoppe moved into the lovely home Roger built for them just south of the Mary L. Cook Public Library on Old Stage Rd. Roger’s work ethic was strong!
Roger was never afraid to fight for the good of the community or keeping its standards upheld. Roger served as the ordinance enforcer, Building Inspector, and Streets Commissioner for the Village for several years in the late 80s and early 90s. Also noteworthy was the fact that Roger was the site manager during the building of the first addition of the Mary L. Cook Public Library in Waynesville. Roger was there every day that workers were on site – supervising and insisting on perfection and that the work be done right!
In his younger days, Roger greatly enjoyed hunting, shooting guns, fishing, and playing golf. He also loved working outdoors and always looked forward to spring and summer so he could get back outside to mow his grass. He found it relaxing and a time to think!
Upon his retirement, Roger and his wife purchased what Roger called “a little piece of Heaven on earth,” their lake house on Lake Waynoka in Brown County, Ohio. Roger and Joanne renovated their home with the help of several hard-working friends. They enlarged the master bedroom, converted the garage into a family room, and built a new garage and an 800-square-foot deck lakeside! Roger enjoyed nearly eighteen years of fishing and boating, sitting on the deck reading books on his Kindle, and watching for the beautiful sunrises and sunsets over the water and the bright stars in the dark sky at night. He also had lots of extra time to play with and love on three of their four schnauzers, Pepper, Bailee Rose, and Margee Jo, who were cherished members of the family. Roger and Joanne especially loved sharing their Lake life with their family and friends. Roger was a member of the WPOA’s Lake Advisory Committee, working hard to preserve the quality of the Lake’s water. He was also a member of the Lake Committee, which promoted and organized fishing tournaments for the bass fishermen. Giving, helpful, resourceful, considerate, and strong, Roger loved being busy. Roger’s work ethic was, oh, so strong and molded his life!
Roger and Joanne found the faith of Luther at the Cross-Lit Church, Peace Lutheran Church, in Arnheim, Brown Co., Ohio. It was life-changing for both of them. Roger was a member of the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Lebanon at his death.
Roger is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joanne, and two daughters, Crystal and Susan Coker. He loved all three ‘bunches and bunches’ and ‘forever and always.’
A memorial service to celebrate Roger’s life will be held on Roger and Joanne’s anniversary, Sunday, June 25, 2023, at Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home in Waynesville. Visitation will begin at 1:30 pm and will be followed by the service at 3 pm. Pastor Corey Wagonfield will be officiating. Please wear blue jeans, your favorite t-shirt, and a ballcap, if that is your habit!
If desired, contributions may be made to DAV – Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, www.dav.org; Matthew 25: Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45242, www.m25m.org; or Resurrection Lutheran Church, 1270 North Broadway St., Lebanon, OH 45036, www.rlc-lebanon.org. Condolences at www.stubbsconner.com.

Published by Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home & Cremation Services on Mar. 15, 2023.