Roger Dale Wright

Roger Wright, a lifelong resident of Fresno / Clovis passed away on June 23rd after a long illness. Roger was sick for the past 3 years with stomach pain that Doctors could not find the reason for. He had every test in the book, with so many biopsies, surgeries and scans. Nothing showed up as a reason for his illness until the end of May 2024 when they diagnosed him with Cancer. The Cancer seemed to hide and then bloomed everywhere.

Roger moved to Hinds Hospice on June 19th (Wednesday) and was gone by Sunday evening.

Roger is survived by his wife Robin, Brother Mel, 3 children: Jimmy, Kevin who is married to Jeanine and Taylor who is married to Keeley Abram and one step-son, Jeremy Shepard. He has 4 grand-children, Toby, Evan, Eleanor Wright and Stevie Abram.

Roger was born in San Mateo CA. His family lived in the Bay Area and Los Angeles before settling in Fresno. Roger grew up hunting and fishing with his family in the mountains and at Pismo Beach. He said his dad made the best clam chowder from scratch with clams the boys caught on Pismo Beach. Roger also talked fondly about the scuba diving trips he took with his High School friends.

Roger graduated from Fresno State with degrees in Chemistry and Biology. He then went on to own a Garden, Gift and Home décor sales group and an Advertising sales company, using neither of his degrees. Roger was a lifelong Fresno State fan. One of Rogers co-workers called him “Mr. Have-A-Chat” which describes Roger to a T.

Roger loved to read. Our house is filled with books. Science fiction was his favorite. He was also a fan of science fiction movies and TV. He loved songs Composed by John Williams and had a tape that he often played in when we traveled to Softball games of all the Williams movie theme songs. Roger loved music and would turn on a classic channel to play every morning when we would go to work. There was always a radio softly playing in his office when he was working.

Roger had a deep love for Baseball and Softball. He talked about listening to Baseball games on the radio when he was a child and going to Oakland A’s games with his grandfather. He told me of times he took Jimmy and Kevin to Angels games in LA.

Rogers favorite baseball teams were the San Francisco Giants and the Angels (Anaheim). He said it was hard when the Giants played the Angels for the 2002 World Series championship. The Angels eventually won.

Roger said when Taylor was young, she was at Ballet class and he was standing there with the other Moms watching. He thought – “I can’t do this” so he found something they could do together. He had a friend whose daughter played softball so he enrolled Taylor in Softball. The rest is history. Roger would support Taylors Softball participation with various travel ball teams by traveling to venues, coaching and scorekeeping. He was proud of her participation on school teams and then traveling on weekend to watch Taylor play at the College level in Visalia and Riverside. Roger loved to watch the Women’s College softball championship games. Roger spoke fondly of the many wonderful softball families that helped him along the way when he was single.

Roger made sure his mom was taken care of. She worked for him in his office by the Airport. Then when she had Alzheimer’s, he found appropriate care for her until her death.

Roger also loved Robin’s mom dearly. They used to plot together what they were going to eat next. It was hilarious. They were both meat eaters (the best part of the Rib eye for them was the fatty part). The holiday Prime Rib was a Big Deal to both of them and Roger loved mom’s deviled eggs.

When we would go out for dinner and take Mom, Roger would get her car door, tuck her arm in his and they would walk into the restaurant…. Leaving Robin to fend for herself. I loved it and my Mom loved it. Roger treated my Mom with so much love and respect. When Robin found her Mom, passed away in her apartment, Roger came right over and sat with Mom until they took her away.

Roger was exceptionally proud of all of our children and grandchildren. If you knew Roger, he would tell you all about the great things that each one of them has accomplished and how smart all of them are. He especially loved when the kids came to visit, where he could Barbeque for everyone, get the hot-tub going (yes, once there was even dish soap bubbles that flooded the patio), play checkers or chess with the grandkids, teach them how to fish (yes, there was a hook incident) and how to shoot the BB gun. He loved to read them a book at the end of the day. Papa would always want the kids to stay up late when they were visiting, Grandma would keep them on their schedule.

Roger loved to golf, ride his bike, read, go to the movies, travel and have fun. Rogers “sweet-tooth” was legendary. He loved candy, cookies (the soft ones, not crunchy), ice cream, cake, pie, cobblers. The center console of his truck always held some sort of sweet surprise.

Roger could fix anything. We joked that sometimes it took him 2 tries (or 3) but the man could do just about anything.

Robin and Roger married in 2008 after meeting on Match.com. Robin’s friend Denise (not Robin) “picked” Roger out. Denise said, he was cute, he liked to read and travel which Robin also liked. It was a wonderful relationship. Roger always said that he would drive home and turn down the street, excited that he would get to see me. Robin felt the same. Coming home was a joy.

Roger would go out in the morning before Robin left for work, dust off the inside and outside of the car so it would be nice when Robin left. Then he and Allie (our Golden) would stand in the driveway and wave as Robin drove off to work.

When Robin was traveling for work, Roger would meet her at the airport to welcome her home. He’d tell Robin, go home, I’ll get your luggage and be right behind you.

We danced in the living room to Moon River. Sat in the hot tub during the rain. Did yardwork together, swim in the pool in the summer. We’d go to the movies on a Saturday night, often splitting a chipotle burrito before.

Roger taught Robin how to golf. They’d go to the driving range in the evenings just to hit a bucket of balls or play 9 holes and get a rootbeer float on the way home. He always wanted Robin to do the very long bike rides with him (she said sorry, no). Roger and Robin went to the gym together. He would do his workout, Robin would do hers. Then they’d go home.

Roger and Robin traveled quite often. First for Taylor’s travel and College Softball teams, then for fun. We’d often joke that once we got on the airplane, Roger would buckle in and immediately fall asleep and would wake up when the wheels touched the ground on the other end.

We went on a cruise once where we ate Crème Brule for dessert every night. On that same cruise, we would finish the day, watching the movie on the deck. It rained every night at the end of the movie (it was a warm rain). We just hung out, holding hands, snuggled on the deck and watched the end of the movie in the rain.

Roger was generous, loving and kind to everyone. He was interested in other people and their stories. He would talk to anyone and everyone. It was the salesman in him. In an airport, at a resort, waiting in line for something, Roger didn’t know a stranger. When Roger worked by the Airport, there were homeless people that he’d see. It wasn’t unusual for Roger to go back into McDonalds and buy a complete meal and give it to an “old timer” that was down on his luck. He asked Robin to buy soft breakfast bars that he would keep in his truck and give to the people he ran across. He’d give them a couple of bucks every so often knowing that they might use it to buy another drink.

Roger would say “Watch the Sunrise and watch the Sunset” you only have so many in your lifetime.

A Graveside Service for Roger will be held Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Clovis Cemetery, 305 North Villa Avenue, Clovis, California 93612.