The Life of Gordon Jules Roger
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at a 1:00 PM Mass of Christian Burial in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milton, for Gordon Jules Roger, 70, who passed away on Monday, March 18, 2019 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette.
Interment will be in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.
Reverend William Schambough, Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milton, will conduct the funeral services.
Survivors include, his daughters, Christina Roger Bourque and her husband, Wayland, and their children, Morgan and Madison, and Elizabeth Kay Roger, and her three children, Landyn, Laikyn, and Logan Brown. He is also survived by his brother, Michael Weston Roger and his wife, Miranda, and their daughters, Mechelle and Jessica.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Verna Mae "Becky" Becker and Theophile Roger; his sister, Denise Marie Roger; his maternal grandparents, Marie Holier Becker and her husband, Gordon Becker; his paternal grandparents, Marie Sonnier Roger and her husband, Jules Roger, and the mother of his children, Virginia "Ginger" Marie Warnke.
Gordon was born on December 24, 1948, which snowed that day, at the Lafayette Sanitarium to Verna Mae "Becky" Roger and Theophile Roger. At this time is when he received his first of several nicknames given him in his life, this one given to him by the attending nurse of "Bozo" which his mother later shortened to "Bo"! Other names give were "La Gosell Noir" in high school by the track team then "Bear" while attending BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition School) in Coronado Island, CA.
He attended "Tiny Tot" pre-school, a day camp for working families during those times, then Mt. Carmel from 1st to 3rd grade, going from there to Cathedral, graduating in 1966. Upon completion of high school, he attended the University of Southwestern on a partial track and baseball scholarship for 2 years, leaving in June of 1968 to join the Navy. After returning from active duty, Gordon returned to USL on a GI Bill.
While attending college, he worked for his father at Southern Home Finance as a loan originator and part-time with Preston J. Babineaux, appraiser, as an assistant appraiser. Upon completion of college, he worked full time at Southern Home Finance until hired by Standard Mortgage Corporation as branch manager. He was named as an "Outstanding Mortgage Broker" by the US Chamber of Commerce three years in a row. He worked there until hired by Lafayette Building Association where he opened up the VA and FHA department to originate, underwrite and close loans for them. He ultimately became the underwriter for all loans for the bank and continued in this position until recalled to active duty with the Army for Desert Storm. Upon return from active duty, he continued back at the bank. In 1996, he became an independent mortgage consultant, working for many banks, companies and the federal government. In this he underwrote both residential and commercial mortgage loans along with auditing duties for the Federal Deposit Insurance, and Federal Home Loan Bank Board.
Traveling through the United States and overseas, Gordon served proudly and with great dedication for 26 years in the military.
He enlisted in the Navy in April of 1968, attended boot camp in San Diego, CA, attended Class A School (Boatswain's-Mate) assigned to Naval Construction Battalion 28 (Seabees). Later he was then assigned to Underwater Construction Salvage Diving School in Davisville, RI, completing school as a First Class Diver (hard hat). He was then assigned to the USS Soley, DD 747, home ported in Charlotte, NC. There he would perform underwater inspections of this ship and others in port. After 6 months, he was sent to Yokosuka, Japan to work in the Naval Ship Yards doing hull inspections and performing other duties assigned. While in Japan, he was transferred back to California, Coronado Island, to attend BUD'S (Basic Underwater Demolition School), to Ft. Benning, GA (U.S. Army jump school), and on to Ft. Still, OK (U.S. Army Artillery School). He also attended forward-observer school (FO) and radio school. Upon completion of training he was assigned to Inshore Underwater Warfare Group Two (Seal Team 1) and sent to Vietnam, first of two tours, for eight months. His second tour, he was assigned to Inshore Underwater Warfare Group Two, MACY (Military Assistance Command-Vietnam), to help in the Vietnamization of the South Vietnamese Navy, helped assist and train South Vietnamese UDT Teams. While on his second tour, he met CW2 Hugh "Buck" Thompson and became lifelong friends, meeting again at Ft. Polk, LA when both Hugh and Gordon were retiring from the Army. Later Hugh moved to Lafayette and sold real-estate and became the local veterans service officer.
Upon return from his tour, Gordon was discharged12 months later and released from active duty and returned home to Lafayette, where he was assigned to NMCB (Naval Mobile Construction Battalion "Sea Bees") 28, Detachment 2, changing his rate/rank from Boatswain's Mate Second Class to Yeoman Second Class, and returned to college, USL, to complete his education. Later he joined the Louisiana Army National Guard where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in August of 1978. While with the Guard, he commanded two infantry companies, was assigned different staff positions (Battalion S1, S4-Brigade Assistant S1, S2, S3(Air Operations), and finally, Assistant G3 (Air Operations with the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Ft. Polk, retiring in 1989. He was also the special briefing officer for 256th Infantry Brigade commander, General Guy Martin, who retired as a Lieutenant General. Later was recalled with this brigade for operation Desert Storm. During his time of service, Gordon served 2 combat tours in Vietnam with the Navy, receiving Silver Star, Bronze Star w/1 star, 2 Purple Hearts, Republic of Vietnam Meritorius Unit Citation Combine Action, and Palm and Frame, Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation 1 star, Navy Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation 1 star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 1 star, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with 1 star, Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal. He was also awarded the Expert Rifle and Pistol badges. While in the Army was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and for his service during Desert Storm, was awarded the Louisiana Cross of Gallantry, last time given during the Civil War for military service.
He loved camping, fishing, and all sports. His favorite times and best memories were taking his wife and children fishing, camping and riding motorcycles. He also loved going fishing with his father to Henderson, LA and other offshore outings.
There is no good-bye, only LOVE......Love always until we see each other again.....
Honored to serve as Pallbearers will be Wayland Bourque, Tracy Warnke, Michael Warkne, Michael Roger, George House, and Matt Binko.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the Cathedral Carmel Class of 1966.
The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille's SOUTHSIDE location on Friday, March 22, 2019 from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 9:00 AM until time of service.
A Rosary will be prayed Friday evening at 7:00 PM in Martin & Castille Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions can be made in Gordon Jules Roger's name to Wounded Warrior Foundation, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL, 32256.
A heartfelt appreciation is extended by the Roger family to the Doctors and Staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center.
Martin & Castille-SOUTHSIDE-600 E. Farrel Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508, 337-984-2811
Interment will be in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.
Reverend William Schambough, Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milton, will conduct the funeral services.
Survivors include, his daughters, Christina Roger Bourque and her husband, Wayland, and their children, Morgan and Madison, and Elizabeth Kay Roger, and her three children, Landyn, Laikyn, and Logan Brown. He is also survived by his brother, Michael Weston Roger and his wife, Miranda, and their daughters, Mechelle and Jessica.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Verna Mae "Becky" Becker and Theophile Roger; his sister, Denise Marie Roger; his maternal grandparents, Marie Holier Becker and her husband, Gordon Becker; his paternal grandparents, Marie Sonnier Roger and her husband, Jules Roger, and the mother of his children, Virginia "Ginger" Marie Warnke.
Gordon was born on December 24, 1948, which snowed that day, at the Lafayette Sanitarium to Verna Mae "Becky" Roger and Theophile Roger. At this time is when he received his first of several nicknames given him in his life, this one given to him by the attending nurse of "Bozo" which his mother later shortened to "Bo"! Other names give were "La Gosell Noir" in high school by the track team then "Bear" while attending BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition School) in Coronado Island, CA.
He attended "Tiny Tot" pre-school, a day camp for working families during those times, then Mt. Carmel from 1st to 3rd grade, going from there to Cathedral, graduating in 1966. Upon completion of high school, he attended the University of Southwestern on a partial track and baseball scholarship for 2 years, leaving in June of 1968 to join the Navy. After returning from active duty, Gordon returned to USL on a GI Bill.
While attending college, he worked for his father at Southern Home Finance as a loan originator and part-time with Preston J. Babineaux, appraiser, as an assistant appraiser. Upon completion of college, he worked full time at Southern Home Finance until hired by Standard Mortgage Corporation as branch manager. He was named as an "Outstanding Mortgage Broker" by the US Chamber of Commerce three years in a row. He worked there until hired by Lafayette Building Association where he opened up the VA and FHA department to originate, underwrite and close loans for them. He ultimately became the underwriter for all loans for the bank and continued in this position until recalled to active duty with the Army for Desert Storm. Upon return from active duty, he continued back at the bank. In 1996, he became an independent mortgage consultant, working for many banks, companies and the federal government. In this he underwrote both residential and commercial mortgage loans along with auditing duties for the Federal Deposit Insurance, and Federal Home Loan Bank Board.
Traveling through the United States and overseas, Gordon served proudly and with great dedication for 26 years in the military.
He enlisted in the Navy in April of 1968, attended boot camp in San Diego, CA, attended Class A School (Boatswain's-Mate) assigned to Naval Construction Battalion 28 (Seabees). Later he was then assigned to Underwater Construction Salvage Diving School in Davisville, RI, completing school as a First Class Diver (hard hat). He was then assigned to the USS Soley, DD 747, home ported in Charlotte, NC. There he would perform underwater inspections of this ship and others in port. After 6 months, he was sent to Yokosuka, Japan to work in the Naval Ship Yards doing hull inspections and performing other duties assigned. While in Japan, he was transferred back to California, Coronado Island, to attend BUD'S (Basic Underwater Demolition School), to Ft. Benning, GA (U.S. Army jump school), and on to Ft. Still, OK (U.S. Army Artillery School). He also attended forward-observer school (FO) and radio school. Upon completion of training he was assigned to Inshore Underwater Warfare Group Two (Seal Team 1) and sent to Vietnam, first of two tours, for eight months. His second tour, he was assigned to Inshore Underwater Warfare Group Two, MACY (Military Assistance Command-Vietnam), to help in the Vietnamization of the South Vietnamese Navy, helped assist and train South Vietnamese UDT Teams. While on his second tour, he met CW2 Hugh "Buck" Thompson and became lifelong friends, meeting again at Ft. Polk, LA when both Hugh and Gordon were retiring from the Army. Later Hugh moved to Lafayette and sold real-estate and became the local veterans service officer.
Upon return from his tour, Gordon was discharged12 months later and released from active duty and returned home to Lafayette, where he was assigned to NMCB (Naval Mobile Construction Battalion "Sea Bees") 28, Detachment 2, changing his rate/rank from Boatswain's Mate Second Class to Yeoman Second Class, and returned to college, USL, to complete his education. Later he joined the Louisiana Army National Guard where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in August of 1978. While with the Guard, he commanded two infantry companies, was assigned different staff positions (Battalion S1, S4-Brigade Assistant S1, S2, S3(Air Operations), and finally, Assistant G3 (Air Operations with the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Ft. Polk, retiring in 1989. He was also the special briefing officer for 256th Infantry Brigade commander, General Guy Martin, who retired as a Lieutenant General. Later was recalled with this brigade for operation Desert Storm. During his time of service, Gordon served 2 combat tours in Vietnam with the Navy, receiving Silver Star, Bronze Star w/1 star, 2 Purple Hearts, Republic of Vietnam Meritorius Unit Citation Combine Action, and Palm and Frame, Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation 1 star, Navy Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation 1 star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 1 star, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with 1 star, Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal. He was also awarded the Expert Rifle and Pistol badges. While in the Army was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and for his service during Desert Storm, was awarded the Louisiana Cross of Gallantry, last time given during the Civil War for military service.
He loved camping, fishing, and all sports. His favorite times and best memories were taking his wife and children fishing, camping and riding motorcycles. He also loved going fishing with his father to Henderson, LA and other offshore outings.
There is no good-bye, only LOVE......Love always until we see each other again.....
Honored to serve as Pallbearers will be Wayland Bourque, Tracy Warnke, Michael Warkne, Michael Roger, George House, and Matt Binko.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the Cathedral Carmel Class of 1966.
The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille's SOUTHSIDE location on Friday, March 22, 2019 from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 9:00 AM until time of service.
A Rosary will be prayed Friday evening at 7:00 PM in Martin & Castille Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions can be made in Gordon Jules Roger's name to Wounded Warrior Foundation, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL, 32256.
A heartfelt appreciation is extended by the Roger family to the Doctors and Staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center.
Martin & Castille-SOUTHSIDE-600 E. Farrel Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508, 337-984-2811
