Roger Lynn Casinger

Lawton, Oklahoma – CSM (Retired) Roger Lynn Casinger, a proud veteran of the United States Army, passed away on December 9, 2022, in Lawton, Okla. He was 83 years old.

Roger was born on January 17, 1939, the oldest of three sons and a daughter born to L.D. and Ima Jean (Rogers) Casinger of Clinton, Ark. He graduated from Little Rock’s Central High School in 1957 and enlisted in the U.S. Army; he completed his basic training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.

During his remarkable, 30-year active-duty career he received many awards, recognitions, and commendations for his combat service in Vietnam, his tours of duty in Japan and Germany in support of the U.S. commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and his leadership as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Armored Division Artillery in Zirndorf, Germany. 

Though he retired from active duty as a Command Sergeant Major in 1987, he continued his service to his country as a contractor for the U.S. Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he helped develop and field equipment for his field artillery brothers and sisters. After more than 50 years of service to his country, he officially retired in 2009.

Roger was an animal lover and had cats and dogs all his life. He also enjoyed military history, collecting autographs, painting military figurines, traveling, and watching movies. His autograph collection is rivaled only by his movie collection. Though his family was always scattered across the country, he didn’t let a birthday go by without calling to sing Happy Birthday.

Along the way, Roger suffered his share of heartbreak. He lost his high school sweetheart, and wife of 47 years, Billie Jean (Pearrow) on September 16, 2004, and his son, Mark on March 27, 2009.

He was blessed with a second chance at happiness when he married Marilyn Sue (Pearrow) on August 30, 2005. He and Sue were married for 18 years until his passing.

Roger is survived by his loving wife, Sue, his children, Don (Debbie), Julie (Shannon), and Michael (Lisa), his stepdaughters Kim and Traci, his grandchildren Amanda, Kimberly, Zachary, Sean, Christopher, Heidi, Ben, Noah, Christian, Talyia, and Tyler, 13 great-grandchildren, his brother Jimmy, his sister Donna, and many nieces and nephews.

He will be celebrated at Pinecrest Memorial Park Chapel in Alexander, Arkansas, on Monday, December 19, 2022, at noon. Interment with full military honors will follow at 1:00 p.m. in the Veteran’s Field of Honor.

“Heroism doesn’t always happen in a burst of glory. Sometimes small triumphs and large hearts change the course of history.”—Mary Roach