Roger Billings, age 74, fought a courageous battle against Multiple Myeloma until the end, January 4, 2014.
Roger Wallace Billings was born on November 9, 1939, in Everett, Washington, the son of George and Margit Billings. His brilliant mind shone through from the beginning. He was a scholarship grantee at the University of Washington where he passed his Certified Public Accounting Examination during his senior year, a rare achievement.
Afterwards he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was accepted into the language/military intelligence school in Monterey, California where he studied and mastered Ukrainian. After his honorable discharge, Roger met and married Sue Barclay, and they celebrated 45 years of marriage together.
Roger was a professional CPA for most of his adult life with many life-long clients who he felt lucky to count as friends. He also worked on behalf of the ACLU, and was an ongoing activist for Seattle zoning issues. He served as the former President of the United South Slope Residents (USSR) of Queen Anne. He loved Seattle and fought hard for its neighborhoods.
Roger’s passions and hobbies were many. His (and his wife Sue’s) love for the arts was integral to their lives. They shared a love for theater, jazz, symphony and art. Roger’s aesthetic sense of architecture and design was truly impressive. He was an excellent dancer and liked nothing better than to dance into the night. His memory (which seemed nothing short of “photographic”) was stunning. He loved old movies, gardens, cabinet making, travel, walking the sand at the Billings’ beach house on Camano Island, and, most of all, he loved his family. He spoke with the greatest pride of his daughter Laura, son Drew and grandson Theo.
Roger is survived by his wife Sue, his two children Laura and Drew, grandson Theo, his brother Dick and wife Sharon as well as other friends and family who will dearly miss him.
A memorial to celebrate Roger Billings’ life will be held January 26th from 3-6PM at the Seattle Swedish Club at 1920 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made through the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation at (203) 229-0464 (mention Roger Billings) or go to his webpage at http://support.themmrf.org/site/TR?pxfid=28390&pg=fund&fr_id=1040[[In-content Ad]]
