Roger Floyd Renton ^{1 2 3 4 5}

  General Notes:

One of Roger's favorite pastimes was riding motorcycles. He was one of the first people to receive one of the new Moto-Guzzi V-twin motorcycles and he liked it because of its larger size in comparison to the smaller Japanese motorcycles so common during those years. He had a hard time finding a motorcycle helmet to fit his large head and he ended up splitting two helmets and fabricating them together to make one large helmet.
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Roger and his brother John both ran Renton Brothers Plumbing in Rockford, Illinois. Roger died an early death at the age of 48 in 1972. Autopsies were not required in Illinois at the time but it is believed that a stroke was the likely cause of death. He was a large man but only slightly overweight. He had been undergoing treatment for high blood pressure at the time of his death. He required a special oversize casket for his remains. He had a size 19 neck which made it almost impossible to find a button-down shirt to properly fit.
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  Death Notes:

Age: 48
Given Name: Roger
Surname: Renton
Birth Date: 26 May 1924
State: Illinois
Event Date: May 1972

Citing this Record
"United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JYJ8-WJS : 20 May 2014), Roger Renton, May 1972; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1930 US Census in Rockford Township, Winnebago County, IL on 14 April 1930. ²

1930 US Census
Sheet 9B, District 101-61, Dwelling 223, Family 224, Roll 572
Rockford Township, Winnebago County, Illinois
3607 Preston Street; home owned..Valued $3,000
Roger Renton..Son..5..IL

(Living with parents.)
.

• He appeared on the 1940 US Census in Rockford, IL on 4 May 1940. ³

1940 US Census
Sheet 20B, District 101-80, Family 402
Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
RR3, North Springfield Avenue; home owned
Residence in 1935: Same House
Rodger F. Renton..Son..15..9th grade

(Living with parents.)
.

• Photo: Grace Holmes, Roger Renton, Mary Holmes, 1942. ¹ Grace Holmes, Roger Renton, Mary Holmes; about 1942, unknown location but probably Rockford, Illinois. This photo was probably taken just before Roger and Mary were married in October 1942.

• 1950 US Census: 20 April 1950, in Rockford, IL. ⁶ 1950 US Census
Sheet 2 & 3, District 101-27, Family 27
Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
66B Kilburn Avenue
Roger F. Renton..Head..15..Illinois..Repair & Install Pump Service

(Living with wife and 4 children.)
.

• His occupation from 1955 to 1972 was a Plumber in Rockford, IL. ¹

Dewey Renton started his own plumbing business in Rockford and upon his death, his four sons took over the business calling it Renton Brothers Plumbing. Jerry Renton spent time in the military and upon his discharge moved to California so he had very little to do with the plumbing business. Donald Renton's share was bought out by both Roger and John leaving only those two sons to run the business. Supposedly both Roger and John were not satisfied with Don's workmanship and ethics in his plumbing so Roger and John both asked Don to leave the business. Don then entered into real estate and continued in that line of business for the rest of his life. Upon Roger's death in 1972, John kept running the business with the assistance of his sons but the business was never as much as it once was. In 2002, the building still stands but is badly deteriorated on a run-down abandoned lot in west Rockford.(Brian L. Lightfoot).

• Photo: 1966, Rockford, IL. ⁷

• Photo: March 1970, Rockford, IL. ⁸ There were not many photos taken of Roger during his entire lifetime. This was probably the closest and largest photo known to exist. Taken on what was probably Easter Sunday when all of the Renton relatives were visiting the home of Brian and Carol Lightfoot at 1626 - 16th Avenue in Rockford, Illinois.

• He was buried on 11 May 1972 in the Willwood Burial Park in Rockford, IL.

Find A Grave Memorial #89486272
. ⁵

Roger married Mary Doris Holmes, daughter of Frank Roy Holmes and Josephine Anna Fanning, on 30 October 1942 in Rockford, IL.¹ (Mary Doris Holmes was born on 30 October 1925 in Rockford, IL,^{1 9 10 11 12} died on 30 January 1998 in Rockford, IL ^{1 11 12} and was buried after 30 January 1998 in Willwood Burial Park, Rockford, IL ^{1 12 13}.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• 1950 US Census: 20 April 1950, in Rockford, IL. ⁶ 1950 US Census
Sheet 2 & 3, District 101-27, Family 27
Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
66B Kilburn Avenue
Roger F. Renton..Head..15..Illinois..Repair & Install Pump Service
Mary D. Renton..Wife..24..Illinois
Gloria J. Renton..Dau..6..Illinois
Carol C. Renton..Dau..3..Illinois
Dewey R. Renton..Son..1..Illinois
Dawn M. Renton..Dau..9m..Illinois
.