Roger D. Bain

Roger Downey Bain, age 88, passed away on September 5, 2021. He was born on December 1, 1932 to Harold and Charlotte Downey Bain in San Antonio, Texas.

His family moved to Corpus Christi in 1937, before there was a Naval Air Station or a seawall downtown. He attended Menger Elementary School, Wynn Seale Junior High, and graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1950. (This high school became Roy Miller High School in 1951.) Roger graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute’s junior college program in 1952. He graduated from the University of Texas Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1954. He then entered the Army through the ROTC as a Second Lieutenant in the Adjutant General Corps. After spending two years in the army at Fort Benjamin Harrison (Indianapolis, Indiana), Fort Bliss (El Paso), Fort Hood (Killeen), and Fort Polk (Leesville, Louisiana), and was discharged from the army as a First Lieutenant in 1956.

Roger was employed by Humble Oil and Refining Company in February of 1957. He worked in the field for a few months at the Kingsville District. He then moved into the accounting area when he was transferred to the Kelsey District in Texas, where he worked for 13 months and then transferred to Hobbs, NM and worked there for six years.

While living in Hobbs, Roger visited his parents in Corpus Christi, and was set up on a blind date with Carolyn Jane Campbell. After a short, long-distance relationship, they got married in Corpus Christi in 1961 and then started their family back in Hobbs where their first child, Betsy, was born. Shortly thereafter Roger was transferred to Midland and three months later to Corpus Christi. After moving to Corpus Christi in 1966, twin sons, Barry and Bradley were born and the family eventually moved to Portland.

Roger retired from Exxon in August 1992, after 35 ½ years of service. Roger gave back to the community in many ways. He was active with United Way Campaigns for over 20 years; served two terms as President of the Exxon Retirees Club; became a Charter Volunteer Guide at the Texas State Aquarium Corpus Christi; worked as a guide on the USS Lexington; Long time member and volunteer at First United Methodist Church, where he served on the Finance Committee and as Usher/Head Usher for many years; and volunteered at several nursing homes, where he loved playing dominos with the residents.

Roger loved watching sports, playing table tennis, fishing, and raising tropical fish. He and Carolyn enjoyed travel and went on many bus tours and cruise ships over the years.

He is survived by his wife of 59 ½ years, Carolyn Campbell Bain, daughter/son-in-law Betsy and David Bittner, son Bradley Bain, and daughter-in-law/son Deborah and Barry Bain; grandchildren Brock Bittner, Bryn Bittner, Christopher Bain, and Courtney Bain.

A Graveside Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Seaside Memorial Park. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday September 11, 2021 at First United Methodist Church.

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