ROGER BLAIR “SARGE” SCHARMEN
Roger Blair “Sarge” Scharmen, a beloved husband, father, grandad, and friend all, passed away after his battle with leukemia on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, at 72 years of age. Roger was born on October 9, 1948 in San Antonio and attended McCollum High School. He served in the U.S. Army and retired after 18.5 years. He later worked as a mechanic for Boeing. As a lover of history and sharing his war stories, Roger served as a mentor and inspiration to many. You probably met him when he introduced himself to you by saying, “a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet. So, what’s your name, friend?”
He was often found at the OST with his family, proudly wearing his Vietnam Vet cap, chatting with all of the locals, and tourists alike. Roger had a saying for everything; including rhymes about beans being a musical fruit and how you should eat them with every meal. Every day he’d order a cup of coffee and tell the server that he liked his coffee like he liked his women and then would turn to his wife and say, “light, sweet, and a little tan.”
Roger was a father of five daughters, Melissa, Tammé, Michelle, Kristina, and Frances and was proudly the Grandad to 23 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Beatrice Jones, Blair Scharmen, and step-father Robert Jones; his first wife Gabriele Scharmen; and daughter Melissa Pylate.
Roger is survived by his wife Pam Scharmen; his children Michelle (Jeff) Sundberg, Kristina (Joe) DeLaFuente, Tammé (Tony) Nolan, and Frances (Nathan) Byrd; and his grandchildren Tiffaneé (Billy) Parrish, Meghan (Shawn) Parker, Lauren (Loren) Gaskin, Rheanna Leal, Tito Leal, Sammy Leal, Brooklyn Everett, Braylen Everett, Bryleé Everett, Braxton Byrd, Tiffany Byrd, George Byrd, and ten great-grandchildren.
Graveside service will be held at Glen Rest Cemetery in Kerrville, TX, on August 19, at 11:00 a.m. Immediately following will be a Celebration of Life at Roger’s favorite restaurant, the OST, in Bandera in the John Wayne room. Family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to the Leukemia Society in his honor.