Roger Dale Toombs

Our treasured father, grandfather, brother, and friend passed away on April 18, 2026 (after a battle with heart failure) in the comfort of his home. Roger leaves behind his daughter Amber (Toombs) Freeman, his grandchildren: Ada Freeman and Keldan Freeman, and his siblings: James Toombs, Robert Toombs, Barbara Lines, and Sandra Morton. Roger was born in East St. Louis, Illinois on April 22, 1944, to Robert Toombs and Bessy Mae (Hurt) Toombs who preceded him in death. His siblings Ruth (Toombs) Moorehouse and Donald Toombs also preceded him in death.

Roger grew up in a large family in both rural Missouri and southern California, where he and his siblings were often found exploring the land surrounding their home. While he often spoke of the relentless weather and innumerous predators found in Missouri as a child, it fostered in him an appreciation of nature and its inherent beauty that would be a foundation that would shape his world for his entire life. Throughout his life, much of his happiness was found within nature, and more specifically, the forest. As soon as his daughter was old enough, he was eager to share this love of the wilderness. It was a fine way to grow up hiking, camping, riding motorcycles, and fishing along mountain streams of the Pacific Northwest. While he ultimately found himself living in the vast desert of southern California, he knew how to appreciate the wilderness and its wildlife wherever he was. He was especially fond of cats, but the desert was an unforgiving environment for any domestic pet to thrive in. So, he settled his focus on assisting the local wildlife in any way he could and especially the endangered tortoises that he was fortunate enough to cross paths with. Even in his final days, he enjoyed treasured moments visiting with a local tortoise he named "Crissy" (a name that he had affectionately given the tortoise before it was known that it was actually a male).

Although he left high school just before graduation to enter the Air Force, he was eager to obtain his GED and excel in the computer realm (during a time when the occupation was still in its initial stages). He was always highly motivated to master new skills and venture into new subject areas by leveraging many, many hours in public libraries to gain knowledge. He was a hard worker, who always put in meticulous effort and care with everything he touched. Even with just a dilapidated shack in the middle of the harsh desert, through a lot of hard, meticulious and earnest work he transformed it into a family dream home. The home was just the latest example of his joy in restoring things to their former glory, and he was constantly working to improve things in his life and in the lives of others.

One of Roger's notable hobbies was playing the guitar. He always spoke fondly of his father having a voice with the likes of Johnny Cash, without realizing that his own deep baritone voice was also like the iconic singer. Some of his daughter's earliest memories were of him playing the guitar and singing, which commanded attention and also had a lulling effect. This had a profound impact on her so much that she hopes to impart this trait onto her own two children.

Roger had a multitude of talents, but the one he will be most remembered for, was his ability to make people laugh. There was never a dull moment with him around, as he was always trying to ease other's minds with his small talk and prompting laughter with his vivid story telling. Even in serious situations, he always made it a point to make someone smile to help ease the burden of the weight of the moment. Roger was painfully aware that life was too short, and that awareness focused the importance of enjoying every moment. With his enormous heart, he was never without family or friends who cared deeply for him. He imparted a wealth of love, generosity, knowledge, and inspiration that will never be forgotten.