Roger Dwight Blevins

Roger Dwight Blevins, age 63, passed away on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio after complications related to a twenty year battle with diabetes. Roger was born on September 8, 1945 in Middletown, Ohio to Mabel (Whisman) and the late Thomas Blevins. Roger is survived by his mother, Mabel of Middletown, Ohio; his brother E. Edward of Irving, Texas; his first wife, Candice (Brown) Hodgson of Brownsville, Texas, and their two children, Cherie (Bryce) Blair of Toledo, Ohio and Roger (Jennifer) Blevins of Huron, Ohio; his second wife, Cathy (Lunsford) Blevins of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, and their two children, David Blevins of Columbus, Ohio and Robert Blevins of Anahiem, California; his companion Mary Ullum of Toledo, Ohio and five special grandchildren, Bryce, Sarah, Eryn, Walker, and Allison.Roger will be remembered for the almost storybook active and energetic life that he created for himself. He was always the competitive athlete participating in all forms of sport where he distinguished himself in track, football, and baseball. While working for Armco Steel in Middletown, Ohio, he was a starter for their nationally renowned traveling Industrial League softball team. He competed on a national level at archery and sharp shooting until his eyesight suffered too much from the effects of diabetes. He built and raced his own race cars, competing from dirt ovals to regional asphalt road courses. Rogers interests included skydiving, being a licensed USCG Master Captain, a certified SCUBA divemaster, and a licensed pilot. He was the avid reader, golfed whenever time allowed, enjoyed his time with his family, and maintained an unmatched skill as a fisherman. Rogers occupations were as varied and interesting as his hobbies. He worked at the Armco Steel Plant in Middletown, Ohio. Roger left Armco and went to work for Financial Planning, Inc. He then became a partner in a data processing company, many years before PCs. Roger moved to the Florida Keys in the mid-70s where he operated fishing and diving charters before starting his own charter fishing business running the Miss Kitty in Key Largo, Florida. After too many years of working in the sun, he moved to Miami to manage a branch of Clinical Profusionists, Inc. (CPI); where he also worked as an autotransfusionists in most of the operating rooms of south Florida. In 1997, Roger relocated to Tampa where he worked as a real estate and business manager. Eventually, Roger retired and moved to Somerset, Kentucky; and then to Toledo, Ohio. in 2007 to be closer to his family. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Michaels in the Hills at 11:00am on Thursday, October 2, 2008. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Hospice of Northwest Ohio or the American Diabetes Association.