Roger Wayne Fishback, 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023, after a long, hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer.
Roger was born May 30, 1941, in Hartford City, Indiana. He was the first of three children of William Garnet and Ruth Helen (McColly) Fishback. Roger was raised on a farm in Montpelier, Indiana. From a young age, Roger learned the value of hard work; having many responsibilities on his family’s farm. When he wasn’t milking the cows and tending to the chickens on the farm, Roger could be found competing in basketball and baseball games or playing practical jokes on his siblings. Roger attended Montpelier schools and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1959, where he met the love of his life, Patty Jo Scott. Roger and Patty Jo went to grade school together and began dating in high school. Their love for each other was one of a kind. They were married in 1961. Roger went on to pursue an economics degree, graduating from Purdue University in 1963. Fresh out of college and newly married, Roger began working for R.R. Donnelley in Chicago, IL. After several bitter cold winters in Chicago, Roger and Patty Jo set out for warmer weather and moved to Dallas, Texas in 1967, where Roger took a sales position with Boise-Cascade. Roger and Patty Jo had 5 children; Lori, Linda, Mike, Mason and Lana. In the early 70’s, Roger started his own graphic arts and design company called Greater Graphics of Dallas and began designing brochures, advertisements and packaging logos for area businesses and colleges. In 1979, and after many years of the hustle and bustle of the city, Roger and his family moved to a small farm outside of Lindale, Texas. He continued to grow the success of his graphic arts business, making it Greater Graphics of East Texas.Roger was a devoted father and husband to his wife and children. He liked spending time coaching his kids’ sports teams, including baseball, football and basketball. Roger enjoyed camping, fishing and boating with his family, as well as, working on projects around the farm with them. Roger loved listening to old county music and was a big fan of the Grand Ole Opry. Roger was an extensive traveler. He loved traveling and experiencing new destinations with his family and friends. He always enjoyed photography and creating digital scrapbooks to savor his memories. In 2005, Roger retired from his graphic design company. He and Patty Jo bought an RV and became full time RVers, traveling all over the country sightseeing and visiting their family and friends for the past 15 years. Roger, Patty Jo, their daughter, Linda and son in law, Darin spent a summer traveling in their RVs throughout the state of Alaska. Roger and Patty Jo also visited 7 Canadian provinces during their travels. Roger and Patty Jo loved Orange Beach, Alabama. They spent many winter seasons there with Roger’s brother, Dick and his wife Susie. Roger traveled to every state in the US except Hawaii. He was known in his later years for knowing all the best sites to see, places to eat and attractions of any city in the US. He was the best tour guide. In 2020, Roger was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. He continued to travel and live each day to fullest down to the very end. He fought a long, hard battle.
Roger is preceded in death by his parents, William and Helen Fishback; his sister, Kay Hess and his granddaughter, Landrie Bland.
Roger is survived by his childhood sweetheart and wife of over 62 years, Patty Jo; their 5 children, Lori Curry (Clark) of Rockwall, TX; Linda Gyomory (Darin) of Gulf Shores, AL; Mike Fishback (Carla) of Knoxville, TN; Mason Fishback (Jill) of Maysville, OK; Lana Bland (Brad) of Murfreesboro, TN; 12 grandchildren; Steven, Darci, Ashley, Cali, Tara, Paige, Macie, Tyler, Makenzie, Mati, Owen and Emery and 16 great grandchildren; 1 brother, Dick Fishback and his wife, Susie and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and close friends.
A graveside memorial service will take place at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Montpelier, IN.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Roger’s name to:
Lustgarten Foundation: Pancreatic Cancer Research ~ lustgarten.org
The American Cancer Society ~ donate.cancer.orgArrangements have been entrusted to Walker & Glancy Funeral Home, Montpelier, IN.
