Roger Eugene Colvard

Roger Eugene Colvard 22 July 1946 - 1 June 2025 Roger passed away peacefully on June 1st from pancreatic cancer, with his two daughters by his side. He was born on the 22 of July 1946 to Eugene “Red” Colvard and Alice Ebert in Alameda, California. He often spoke fondly about growing up on his Uncle Jim’s chicken farm in South Sebastopol, California, with his siblings, Terry, Wayne and Debra. He joined the Airforce in October of 1965 during the Vietnam War where he served in the Middle East in communications working closely with the CIA. Roger being the charismatic man that he was, also sold insurance, cars, vacuums and computers throughout his working career. His love of trains stemmed from his stint working for Union Pacific Railroad as an electrical engineer. He loved building intricate model train sets that would take up entire rooms. He also enjoyed building computers from scratch. He always prided himself with his technological prowess. Dad’s married life was colorful starting with his marriage to Kaye Flanigan shortly after graduating high school. He became a first-time father with the birth of their daughter Rhonda in 1967. They were later divorced. While working for Western Electric in Chicago he met Betty and they were later married on June 9th, 1971. They had two daughters, Cheryl in 1972 and Jazz in 1976. They were later divorced. In the early 1980s he married his third wife Karen and became a father figure to her four children, Marcy, Chad, Heather and Travis. They were later divorced. He was a bit of a nomad as he wandered throughout the country looking for his next big break. He loved the outdoors and especially loved the times he spent in the Arizona desert with Karen collecting rocks and cacti. Roger was a people person and loved more than anything to “dialogue” those he came in contact with. If he left you with a laugh and a smile his work was complete. His favorite saying was, “Smile! It improves your face value.” His quick wit and sense of humor brought a smile to most everyone he came into contact with. Dad was the King of One-liners! He would often remind us that our sarcasm and warped sense of humor was “in the genes” and we “never had a chance.” He loved to brag about his kids’ and grandkids’ accomplishments and activities to everyone he came into contact with. Dad was a big softie when it came to pets or animals of any kind. We would regularly tease him that he was the local “cat lady.” He loved with his whole heart and would do anything for a friend. Dad always felt that he was lucky enough to have two loves in his life in Betty and Karen. He had a big, vibrant personality and the world is a little dimmer without him in it. We’re hoping heaven is ready for the man that just showed up at the Pearly Gates. They are going to have their hands full with Dad. Roger is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Terry, half-brother Doug, his daughter Rhonda, ex-wife Karen and step-daughter Marcy. He is survived by his daughters Cheryl (Wayne) Beck, Jazz (Richard) Wilkey, and step-children Chad (Sunny) Crowl, Heather (Jamie) Fullmer, and Travis (Victoria) Crowl, as well as 12 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Roger Eugene Colvard

July 22, 1946 - June 1, 2025