Roger N. Zachritz

Roger Neil Zachritz passed away peacefully on October 25, 2023, having had a long goodbye with family and friends. Roger was born on March 31, 1932 in Oklahoma City to Cornelius Peter (Neil) and Clara Zachritz. He was a loving husband of 62 years to his wife Judith and a great dad to his daughter Jane (husband Mark Holt) and son Steven (wife Meredith). He treated Mark and Meredith as his newer kids. He also delighted in his granddaughter Madeline and grandson Curan. He is survived by his beloved little brother Don Zachritz (wife Carolyn) of Oklahoma City and his two nephews, Jeff and David, and niece Anne, and he is preceded in death by his parents.  From an early age, Roger believed in serving others and would go on to serve in the U.S. Army, work for Housing & Urban Development, and volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America.  He was a lover of plants, an avid handyman, a builder of playgrounds, a good friend, and he had a curious spirit and was always teaching those around him. He was much loved and will be missed dearly.  His memorial service will be held at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church (PHUMC) on November 21, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. and will be officiated by Dr. Jeff Hampton. Memorials may be made to the Landscape Ministry of PHUMC.

Roger graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Design from Oklahoma Agriculture & Mechanical College.  He was a member of the Phi Sigma Biological Society (Alpha Beta Chapter), Alpha Gamma Rho social fraternity and Alpha Zeta honors fraternity.

After four years of ROTC, Roger was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1954. He served in Korea from 1955-1956 and was active in the Army Reserve for 28 years. He also taught command general staff college courses at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and retired as Deputy Commandant of the USAR school in Little Rock.  He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring.

Roger started his Federal career as an Agricultural Aide with the Cheynne, WY Horticulture Field Staff and then joined the Public Housing Administration in 1959 in Washington, D.C. as a Site Planning Landscape Architect. He served as Chief of the Technical Review Branch, Public Housing Administration, Fort Worth Region, and as Project Planner responsible for public housing development in the states of Arkansas and Missouri. He transferred to the Little Rock office in 1970 as Director of Housing Management and later became Director of Housing Production Mortgage Credit before being named Deputy Area Manager in 1975. He retired in 1994.

Roger was also active in the Boy Scouts of America, serving as summertime Scout Master for Troop 336, Trinity United Methodist Church, and as Advancement Chairman, Pioneer District, Quapaw Council, Boy Scouts of America. He received the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver award.  During his time with the Boy Scouts, he conducted over 300 Boards of Review for District Eagle Scouts.

Arrangements entrusted to Smith Little Rock Funeral Home.