Roger Glen Yocom

Roger Glen Yocom, 88, of Topeka, died on August 22, 2023 after a brief illness. He was born February 7, 1935 to Glen and Nell Yocom, the second of five children. His earlier years were spent in Southwest Missouri on a small farm house with no indoor plumbing or electricity, as was his first schooling in a one-room school. His family moved to Baxter Springs, KS, where he was the bat boy on a high school baseball team "The Whiz Kids", whose star player was Mickey Mantle. That began his love of the game and the star. His family then moved to Winfield, KS, where he graduated high school, after which Roger joined the Air Force. He served in Wyoming, Minnesota and Japan, honorably discharged as a Staff SGT. He graduated from Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, 1961 with a BS Degree. He started his working career with then Household Finance Company, managing several offices until his first retirement 25 years later in 1986. He then worked another 10 years at Fidelity State Bank, Topeka, as Senior Vice President, before retiring a second time.

Roger was always an avid team sports fan, first coaching little league games when his kids were young and later played softball for over 25 years. He was instrumental in organizing the first senior (50+) softball league in Topeka, starting out with eight teams. In his later years, he enjoyed playing pickleball whenever he could. Roger was a member of First Christian Church and was actively involved in earlier years. He was a volunteer income tax preparer for the IRS VITA program for over 17 years.

Roger married Phyllis Rhodes in 1958, and they had three children. Phyllis died in 1994. He married Glenda Moore in 1996. Roger was a wonderful father, grandfather and husband, who taught his family many values and practical "how tos" through the years. He was an avid "woodworker" and loved puttering in his workshops. There wasn't much he couldn't build if he put his mind to it. He kept busy with kids', grandkids' and wife's build it/fix it projects. Roger will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him.

Roger was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, brother in-law, sister in-law and first wife, Phyllis. He is survived by wife, Glenda Yocom; son, Kent Yocom; two daughters, Kathy Yocom and Debra (David) Turner; grandchildren, Brice Turner, Brad Turner, Bailey (Kyler) Heather and Blake Turner and one great grandchild, Aven Heather all of Topeka; and two siblings, Jean Donlay and Gerald Yocom both of Derby, KS.

It was Roger's wish to be cremated and his remains inurned at Memorial Park Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church, 1880 SW Gage Blvd, Topeka, KS 66604, on Friday, August 25, 2023 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church or to a charity of your choice.

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