Roger Busch Yeardley

Roger Yeardley, Sr., age 95, died January 5, 2023. Born in Parkersburg, WV to Nelson P. Yeardley, MD, and Caroline Busch Yeardley, he was delivered by his father on August 20, 1927. He was preceded in death by his parents, his three brothers, Nelson P. Yeardley, Phd of Greenville, PA, Lawrence J. Yeardley of Parkersburg, WV, Robert L. Yeardley, OD of Columbus, OH, daughter Jill Danielson of Cincinnati, and his wife of sixty-nine years Patricia. He is survived by three sons Roger (Jr.), Mark, and Brian, daughter-in-laws Katy and Lucy, and son-in-law Hugh. He also was family patriarch to grandchildren Noah (Kari), Jordan, Ellen, Rachel, Miguel, and Ben, and great-grandchildren Colton, and Elijah.

Roger grew up surrounded by influences of science and music in his family. His father was a doctor, one of the first residents at Christ Hospital; and his brother Nelson was a professor of mathematics. His mother was a piano teacher, who was offered a scholarship at the New England Academy of Music. He graduated in 1945 from Parkersburg High School, where he participated in football and track, setting a school record in the shotput and placing first at the state meet in this event his senior year. In 1950 he graduated from the School of Optometry at Ohio State University, where he met his future wife Patricia Childs at a campus dance. He participated in track at OSU and was a member of E Psi E professional optometric fraternity, for which he composed a club song.

He served in the U.S. Navy at the end of WWII, as an enlisted man from December 1945 to August 1946. He was called back in March, 1952 during the Korean conflict, graduating at that time from Navy Officer Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island. During his first tour of duty he was trained at Great Lakes Naval Training Station and served aboard the USS Olmsted, a troop transport which made port at Nagasaki, Japan. There he witnessed the destruction caused by the second A-bomb which had been dropped on the city six months earlier. During his second tour of duty 1952-55 he served for two years aboard the USS Gardners Bay, a seaplane tender which operated in waters around China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines and, later, Viet Nam. He spent his final year of duty as Engineer Officer aboard the USS Prevail, out of Norfolk, Va., which operated off the east coast and in the eastern Caribbean.

When he and Patricia came to Cincinnati after his last naval tour of duty they resided in the newly built Swifton Village apartments. They subsequently lived in Mt. Washington and Anderson Township, as well as the Kenwood-Madeira and Milford areas later in life. He practiced optometry for almost sixty years in southwestern Ohio, including at offices in Cincinnati, Oxford, Batavia, and Dayton. He was beloved by his children and grandchildren, for whom he showed love and suppor, including in their education, sports, important life milestones, and activities. He and Patricia enjoyed socializing. Over the years they belonged to various dance clubs and gourmet dining groups and subscribed to the Playhouse in the Park and Cincinnati Pops Riverbend series. Roger and Pat loved to travel, enjoying visiting many different countries. They spent time in Florida at the condo they owned for some years on Sarasotas Longboat Key. He was a caregiver to his wife for several years before she died. He enjoyed the company of his family, liked reading and writing, and appreciated a good pun. He enjoyed playing tennis, golf and watching and following sports at all levels, especially Cincinnati teams and those of his alma mater, Ohio State. Several of his letters to the editor were published in the Cincinnati Enquirer and Time Magazine. In retirement he was the author of a self-published book (2018) about Franklin Roosevelt ( My Friends and Others ), and of an unpublished novel.

Friends may visit at T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home, 2050 Beechmont Ave., Mt. Washington, on Saturday, January 14th from 2 to 4 pm.