Waynes, Roosevelt's Obituary
Roosevelt Waynes was born August 9, 1933, in Linden Alabama.
He was named by an aunt. Fannie Bell Coston. She was born May 29, 1922,
and passed July 19,2008. He has no middle name.
He was also known as Jack, Richard, Rick and Bae. Some are nicknames and
others he called himself as he didn't care for Roosevelt growing up. My family
calls him Rosey. I call him Roosevelt.
As a child Roosevelt lived in a company house, at 331 Park Rd. Westfield, AL.
Some sort of mill town.
Roosevelt's friend, "Bo-weevil", lived next to Willie Mays, "Buck Duck", a
childhood nickname, folks. Willies Dad was nicknamed "Kat "Mays.
Roosevelt joined the Air Force as a teenager, it was segregated back
then. He went to Lackland, Texas for basic training.
He was stationed in Fuchu, Japan at age 18. He went to Germany, Florida
twice, Homestead and Pine Castle AFB, California at Hamilton, Sacramento,
McClellan AFB, Greece and California again; Radar Site in Rancho Palas
Verdes.
He was discharged at age 22. He went back in, processed at Lackland Texas
and went to F, B. Warren AFB in Cheyenne Wyoming. He had a cousin living
there.
When he was in Germany, Elvis was there. Elvis was there September 1958 to
March 1960.
Our story began at McClellan AFB, Sacramento California. We met and he got
orders to Athena Air Base in Greece. We married in Reno Nevada. He drove My
daughter Tracy and me across the country to Maryland. He had to go to the
Pentagon to get our passports. We flew out of JFK Airport; it took a whole day it
seems. We lived there for 5 years.
Son Eric was born there at the Materia Hospital downtown Athens Greece.
We were then sent to San Pedro California. 1977 he retired from Air Force. He
worked in Material Control on Radar Site. He retired while working at the radar
site in Rancho Palas Verdes. He had about 25 years of service.
We moved to Sacramento where he went to school for a while. Then he trained
as an electrician's helper and worked for Federal Government as a civilian. He
worked at the Army Depot, it closed, he then went to McClellan AFB, and it closed. While there he was among those supporting Desert Storm repairing
equipment including night vision goggles. He got Zero Defect awards for his
good work on "black boxes" and the goggles that were sent overseas.
Roosevelt enjoyed fishing, going to Las Vegas and working in the yard and the
Super Bowl. He used to barbecue and was very good at it. As the years
passed his health worsened. Yet he stayed busy, weed whacking, using his
leaf-blower etc. At times he enjoyed hobbies, he quilted for a while, tied flies
for fishing, and he used to read all sorts of genres of novels, western, action,
and such. He enjoyed going to Las Vegas and Reno.
In July of 2002 he had a heart attack on the treadmill at the hospital. He was
having shortness of breath and doctor wanted the test. 5 days in the hospital
and two heart stents later. He still was going to Vegas and enjoying life.
He had Chronic Hepatis C, congestive heart failure, stage 4 kidney disease,
glaucoma, bones weakened by medicine in his back, and lung issues. Chronic
UTIs. He did not take many pain pills. He was on at least 13 medicines.
He was doing pretty good, but something was off, so he went to his favorite Dr.
Nguyen. After MRI and other tests, it was determined that he had a large
lesion on his frontal lobe of the brain, a parenchyma. 5.2x5.4 cm. Surgeon
said he wouldn't get any cognitive loss back and could be invalid. He was
forgetting words and stopped reading his books. He opted out of surgery, an
up to six-hour ordeal. That was in 2022.
After going to all those tests, we got Covid. We did well as we had our shots.
Poor man got shingles as he had impaired immunity and could not take the
old shot. 5 days in isolation, scarred leg and lower back. Nerve pain off and
on. That was in 2023. Cautionary tales, kids get your shots.
Illness did not stop him from enjoying his football games. He loved the
Cowboys and lately the Kansas City team, Mahomes and Kelsey. He enjoyed watching Grandson Trae playing football. He had hats for all the teams and
many more.
He, as of late, was really enjoying the WNBA. He loved those 3-point shots
those girls made.
He had great fun when our kids came to the casino with us. Daughter Tracy
and son-in-law David came this year from Missouri. Son Eric would come after
work and join in.
So, it's sad to say that at 92 he had heart failure and passed away at home
September 20, 2025. He had enjoyed football game the night before. The EMTs
said he flat-lined. We had DNR and they didn't have to shock him or put tube
down his throat. They were respectful and helpful as were the attendants from
Sunset Lawn who came to pick him up.
Now Eric, and dear friend Cynthia, and I are untangling his obsessive saving of
containers, paperwork and so much stuff. We laugh, we cry, we remember
him always lining things up and straightening and changing things to suit his
taste. Although he was never diagnosed as having OCD, he sure had signs of
it. Daughter Tracy is coming to lend a hand.
Fun fact, man could fold sheets as good as they came from the factory, a neat
package. He could fold anything neatly, as evident by the old towels to dry off
the automobiles are folded ever so neatly on a shelf.
He will be missed by his wife, Judi. They were married for 55 years. And by his
children, Ron, Robin, and Rose, Tracy, Eric, and David. And all those
grandchildren. He is preceded in death by daughters Renata and Roslind.
Sadly, he outlived his friends and favorite uncles.
Roosevelt's grandchildren that will miss him are Aaron, Ashley, Adam, Trae,
Mason, David, Jessica, Richard, Lindzay, Robin, Andrew, Tyler, Raven, Tesha
and Tevin. And the great-grandchildren as well.
Fun note: In August of 2022 grandson Trae had him do test for ancestry.
Results came back as 40% Nigerian, 19 % Bantu Togo, 14 % Cameroon, 4 %
Mali, 4 % Wales and some Scandinavian.
Family History:
Father: Evans or Ivan Waynes. No information about him. Story was he was
killed in a house of ill-repute.
Half-brother Doc Waynes who was raised by his Grandparents. No contact
since the 50's.
Mother: Pearl (Pearlie Mae) Houston (when young) Williams. Her mother was
Harriet. Harriet had 14 children.
Roosevelt's Aunts and Uncles: Therman, Pearlie for whom Roosevelts Mother
was named as she was murdered by her daughter-in-law, Manchild, died in
childhood, Fannie Bell, Craig, Richard (RD), Warren, J.C., Pinnie, Handy, Isiah,
Ruthie, Ida, and Carrie.
His Mother's father was "Bubba" Rembert. Verified this last name by a third
cousin, Annie Anderson Hollins, doing ancestry going back to slave owner. He
was supposed to be a Black Foot Indian. Roosevelt sometimes stayed with
him. He baked 'ho bread in the embers of the fireplace. He let Roosevelt stay
out late. He was ill-tempered and people were afraid of Bubba. Roosevelt's
mother did not get along with him. He called her "Fat Gal". Roosevelt did not
know his given name.
Harriet Houston, Grandmother: Siblings, Maggie, Winston, Jimmie, William,
Richard, Pearl, Narcissius. Harriet was the youngest.
Harriet's Mother was Pearlie married to James "Big Daddy" Woods.
Jimmy Houston had twins, Mattie Mae and Johnny Mae, they were in Chicago.
From Bessemer, Alabama.
His funeral will be held at the Dixion Veterans Cemetery, Dixion California,
October 14, 2025 at 11am
He will be greatly missed.
What’s your fondest memory of Roosevelt?
What’s a lesson you learned from Roosevelt?
Share a story where Roosevelt's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Roosevelt you’ll never forget.
How did Roosevelt make you smile?