Roger Norman Letendre

Roger Norman Letendre, 86, of Houston, Texas, entered into rest Friday, May 18, 2018. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut on March 27, 1932 to parents Edward and Bernadette (LaFleur) Letendre. Roger attended St. Ann Catholic elementary and graduated from Buckley High in 1950. He was an active boy scout, collected paper and metal during WW II, worked as a soda jerk, and delivered telegrams for western union. Roger had a passion for the United States Navy and joined the Navy in 1951 serving aboard the Destroyer, USS Ingersoll DD652. He was awarded 6 medals and was a Korean War Veteran. He received a BS degree in Accounting from the American International College in 1961. Roger served as a volunteer fireman for Rocky Hill, CT where he and the family lived for several years.

Roger worked in the Retail business in large department stores including Macy’s, Foley’s and G. Fox. He became a career Internal Auditor, with under his leadership, he brought considerable improvements and savings significantly effecting the “bottom line”. He was on the Board of Directors at Greenwood Forest and was instrumental in leading the acquisition of the Greenwood Forest Clubhouse for the neighborhood. He retired in 1997 and became a volunteer for several organizations. After retiring, he started every day by reading the newspaper with his 2 cups of coffee. After reading the paper he did Sudoku puzzles which he mastered. He was big on making lists, enjoying an occasional cigar, starting his evenings with a very dry vodka martini or good scotch on ice while watching TV. He loved to shop and cook. He always said that the best years of his life was when he served aboard his ship for four years and was in the Navy.

Some remembrances during his younger years; playing in the snow, listening to the radio, WW II, Saturdays at the movies, where you watched two movies and coming attractions, the news, action packed serials and cartoons, camping, riding his 3-speed bike, delivering the evening newspaper, Sunday night dinner, listening to all the great songs of the 40’s and 50’s. Some of his favorite movie actors when he was young, Roy Rogers, Mickey Rooney, John Wayne and actress Maureen O’Hara. He was dedicated to his family, country, religion and to his work. He loved going to the beach and was a big sun worshiper. He loved challenges and took a strong position for conservatism.

He is survived by the mother of his children, Rosemary McKinley, his son Rick Letendre and wife Claudia, daughter Mary-Ellen Gibbs, grandchildren Brandy Schwarz and husband Adam, and Brice Gibbs, his sister Doris Gaudet and husband Bob, and preceded in death by his sisters Jeanne Cables and Germaine Taverna, and brother John Letendre, and he has been blessed to have many other loving relatives, friends and acquaintances in his life. Roger requests donations be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate in place of flowers and prays that God has mercy on his soul.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 30, 2018 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm with a Rosary at 7:00pm at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038. A funeral service will be held Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 10:00am at American Heritage Funeral Home with a committal service to follow at 11:30am at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038.