Fisher, Roger Payne

Roger Payne Fisher, 62, of Pearisburg, went to be with the Lord Friday, January 18, 2008 at Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital in Pearisburg after a long battle with cancer.

Mr. Fisher was born on December 17, 1945 in Pearisburg and was a son of the late Estle P. Fisher and Irene Barnett Fisher of Pearisburg. Besides his father, he was preceded in death by his beloved companion, his drug dog Murphy.

Roger served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam for 18 months and was honorably discharge with the rank of Sgt. E-5. He attended Cardinal Police Academy in Salem and the New River Police Academy in Dublin. He served with the Giles County Sheriff’s Dept. from 1967 to 1972, then with the Blacksburg Police Dept. from 1972 to 1975, then with the Narrows Police Dept. in 1975. He was with the Glen Lyn Police Dept. from 1975 to 1978 and then served with the Pearisburg Police Dept. from 1978 to 1998 when he retired as Sgt.

He also worked for the Giles County School Board for 22 years as a bus driver. He loved all his kids and they loved him. He also worked part-time for Sunshine Tours in Dublin after his retirement from the police force. He was an official for the Virginia High School League for 27 years and he also coached Little League Football. He was a member of the Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead, an avid fisherman and hunter, loved to spend time on Claytor Lake, where he was known as “Striper Shadow” and was a big Giles High School Spartan Fan.

Roger is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Pat of Pearisburg. Pat has been his love since she was very young, when he pitched her a dime and told her to call him when she turned 21. He is survived by his mother, Irene Fisher of Pearisburg; three sons, Chris of Rural Retreat, Derek of Rural Retreat, Jason and wife, Christy, of Peterstown, W.Va.; one daughter, Tracie Ellen of Pearisburg; his special granddaughter MaKayla; two brothers, Rayburn and wife, Shelby, of Ironto, Ronnie and wife, Sharon, of Pearisburg; one sister, Faye and husband, Billy, of Chesapeake, Va.; countless nieces and nephews and a special nephew, Ron. Roger had many friends and he considered the Town of Pearisburg Police Department as his brothers.

Funeral services will be conducted at Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead Monday, January 21, 2008 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Shahn Wilburn and Vigil N. McHone officiating, with burial following in the Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the Riverview Baptist Church Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. A full military service will be conducted by the VFW Post # 6000 in Narrows, and American Legion Post #68 in Narrows and # 311 in Pembroke. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.givensfuneralhome.com.