Proud, loving, and devoted to his family—just a few ways Roger David Fryar, 76, a beloved big brother, husband, father, and grandfather, will be remembered by his loved ones. He passed away in his home in League City, TX early Sunday morning, March 14, 2021, and was taken away from them too soon.

A fiercely independent and honorable man, Roger dedicated his life to serving his country.  He served 23 years in the U.S. Army, including two tours in the Vietnam War, during which he was decorated multiple times with his highest honor being a Bronze Star. After retiring from the military, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of working for NASA at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, where he worked in Building 30 as Comm Control, and supported the space shuttle program for 22 years.  He was proud to be a part of 109 shuttle missions, from Discovery’s STS-26 through Atlantis’s final mission STS-135 in 2011.

Roger had a quirky sense of humor and loved to laugh. He was also an avid tinkerer and loved to engineer solutions to household problems in his garage workshop. He enjoyed woodworking, lapidary work, and jewelry making. He was very proud of the work he did with his cousin Garvin Fryar to document the Fryar family genealogy back to Thomas Martin Friar, who emigrated to the U.S. from Dublin, Ireland in 1853.

Family was everything to Roger. A man of few words, he showed his love through his actions. Whatever the need, he was always there for his loved ones.  He often said his greatest achievement in life was his children.

Roger is preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Henry Fryar; his second mother Valeria, and his older brother, George William Fryar.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 53 years, Edeltraud Fryar; four sons: Anton M. Reif and wife Laurie; David K. Fryar and wife Sheila; Curtis H. Fryar and wife Alma, and Jonathan J. Centner and wife Jeana; and one daughter, Maraiah Fryar and husband Matthew Mucker. He will be dearly missed by his eight grandchildren, of whom he was so very proud: Jeremy Carsner and wife Mandy; Robert Fryar, Justin Fryar, Ryan Fryar, and Aaron Fryar; Jacob Mucker, Andrew Mucker, and Emerson Heath-Fryar. He is survived by two brothers: Larry B. Fryar and wife Jan; John H. Fryar and wife Jerri; and two sisters: Valerie Sue Chino, and Karen M. Comstock and husband Ray.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation at (646) 943-7521.