Roger Allison

1932 - 2021

Roger Allison
May 19, 1932 - August 2, 2021
Fresno, California - Roger was born May 19, 1932, in Santa Barbara, CA, as the only child of Bess M. Cardey and Clyde L. Allison. He was a fifth generation descendant of James Robert Allison of Kingsburg. As a youngster he was raised in all the oil-producing areas of California as his father managed various fields for major oil companies. Roger was a graduate of Midway Elementary in Fellows, CA, Coalinga High, and San Jose State University.
After college he spent a year traveling to over 14 countries in Europe. He joined Shell Oil Company in San Francisco in 1956 and had various assignments in Shell's Marketing Division. He transferred to Fresno in 1965 as a Senior Real Estate Representative. After the closure of the Fresno Office, he took several assignments in LA and the Bay Area. In 1970, he left Shell to stay in Fresno where he developed various commercial properties. In 1973, he joined the real property division of Fresno County and became the Real Property Manager. He retired in 1990. For the next several years he worked as a private consultant for small cities like Clovis, doing their acquisition and relocation work. He was a charter member of the Fresno R/W Association. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite, and served as President of the Fresno Shrine Club in 1980.
His lifelong hobby was collecting and restoring antique automobiles. He was a 50-year member of the Antique Automobile Club of America, Horseless Carriage Club of America, and the Society of Automotive Historians. He was elected to the HCCA national board and served as vice president of the Horseless Carriage Foundation.
For over 4 decades he enjoyed family touring in their antique automobiles. They toured in their 1911 Cadillac in the late 60s on the Harrah's Reno Tours. They also did tours from London to Brighton and Cleveland to New York in their 1903 Winton. Roger's other love was flying. In his early years he practically lived at the Coalinga Airport learning to fly. He held a private pilot's license since 1952.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Barbara of 59 years and granddaughter Alyson. He leaves behind his daughters Karen Harley and Kirsten Riolo, his son James Allison, and grandchildren Bryan, Erika, Evan, Melissa, Kamaryn, Hunter, Joshua, Jacob, and Preston.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Horseless Carriage Foundation, www.hcfi.org, or a charity of your choice.
"The Broken Chain"
Author Unknown
We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone. For part of us went with you, the day God called you home. You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide. And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side. Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same. But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.