Roosevelt Waynes

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.