10/3/2010
Roger Lee Bales of Tracy passed away in Knoxville on Oct. 3, 2010. Roger was born
May 12, 1931, in Newton, the son of F. Guy and Oneita (Foster) Bales.
He moved to
Knoxville from Phoenix, Ariz., at which time he started his freshman year in high
school. He played football throughout his school years and graduated from Knoxville
High School in 1949. Roger served in the US Navy and was on the USS Fulton. He was
discharged honorably in 1954. He was a member of the American Legion, Baty-Tucker
Post 168 in Knoxville.
Roger married Jane Wooldridge in 1957. The couple made their
home in Tracy (Pershing), for the last several years. Roger was baptized in the
Christian Church in Lacona, and was very proud to inform everyone he was a Christian.
He claimed Lacona Christian Church as his church.
Roger was employed by the VA Medical
Center in Knoxville for over 30 years. He retired in 1986. He was an avid outdoorsman
who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved his dogs, especially his rat terriers,
and trained a variety of dogs for raccoon, squirrel, quail and pheasant hunting.
Roger also judged dogs. He hunted competitively throughout the country for years.
He initiated the Red Rock Coon Hunters' Association and held the first hunt in his
dad's barn, southeast of Knoxville.
Roger broke and trained horses in his youth,
and later trained riding and jumping mules. He continued to do this until his health
began to fail. He judged many horse and mule shows for several years. He and his
friends held the first State Mule Show in Iowa at Roberts Creek State Park, north
of Knoxville, in 1969. Roger, along with his wife and sons, showed horses and mules
in many events throughout the country.
He enjoyed camping and trail riding with
the family's many friends. He loved spending time with his family and could hardly
wait until they arrived. He also enjoyed his many friends stopping by to visit and
drink coffee. He followed politics very closely, and could tell you the views of
most candidates of each party.
Roger was preceded in death by his mother, father
and sister, Patsy Harvey. He is survived by his wife, three sons, John and Sue of
Lacona; Roger Jr. “Rusty” and Margaret of Darlington, Wis., and Scott of Knoxville;
five grandchildren, Nick and Stephanie at Topeka, Kan., Valarie and Shane at De
Forest, Wis., Andrew at Des Moines, Amy at Altoona and Dina at Des Moines; and seven
great-grandchildren.
There will be no services. His ashes will be scattered at a
later date with family.