Darwin Clifford Roner

1945 - 2024

Darwin Clifford Roner
August 20, 1945 - September 27, 2024
Darwin was born in Waterloo, IA to Clifford R. Roner and Florence M. (Fink) Roner. His parents moved to Scio, OR in 1946 where he grew up and went to school.
As the middle child and only boy in the family of three, he quickly became known as "Buddy" to his siblings and cousins. He was active in both 4H and FFA showing Brown Swiss Dairy Cattle. He also enjoyed playing on the Scio High School Basketball Team. He helped his great uncle Edwin Roner on his farm. From a young age he always dreamed of owning his own farm.
He graduated from Scio High School in 1963. Following graduation, he worked at the International Paper Company in Lebanon, OR.
He met the love of his life at the A&W in Albany, OR, where that pretty little "car hop" waitress was working. In 1965, Darwin married Joanne Marilyn (Shelby), with whom he celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on July 3rd of this year. Darwin and Joanne welcomed daughters Karen in 1967 and Cathy in 1969 while they lived in Scio.
In 1974, Darwin convinced Joanne that the farming dream should become reality. After several trips around the state, they found a farm outside of Vale, OR. In the little farming community of Willowcreek, and proceeded to live out his dream. The family dairy herd was started in 1978, with 10 head of Holsteins. The family also expanded in 1978 with the birth of daughter Linda, followed by sons Kevin in 1980 and Kenneth (Kenny) in 1983. With the expansion of the family, so did the number of acres that were farmed and the number of cattle that were milked. Darwin farmed property owned by Ralph and Gladys Pershall for over 30 years; along with portions of the neighboring Springer and Morcom farms over the years.
Darwin was an avid hunter, fisherman and rock hound. On any given Sunday during fishing season, he would take the family to his favorite fishing holes and let the fishing competition begin. Hunting season was a special occasion with friends coming from across the state and camping out in the yard to enjoy hunting pheasants and the occasional deer or elk, rounding out the evenings with late night marathon pinochle parties. The collection of rocks grew anytime that something caught his eye.
When he turned 65, he decided that he could retire from milking and sold the herd. In 2013, Darwin and Joanne retired from farming, sold the family farm and moved into Vale. This did not end his farming days, because he could often be found swathing alfalfa hay for Rex Maag over the following years.
He is survived by wife, Joanne of Vale; children, Karen (Dean) Warr of Salem, Cathy (Rick) Martin of Scio, Linda (Jody) Webb of Aumsville, Kevin (Betty) Roner of Texas, and Kenny (Brittany) Roner of Arvada, CO; grandchildren, Tristin Marie Nauta of Coral Springs, FL, Craig Aaron Warr of Salem, Logan Martin of Scio, and Riana (Austin) Zeiher; and great granddaughter, Montana of Scio; sisters, Sharon Kay (Tony) Nofziger and Evelyn Gibson.
A Celebration of Live Service will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 2 p.m., at the Vale Community Methodist Church, 255 Cottage St S, Vale, OR.