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Roger Ernest Bancroft

Dec. 19, 1926-Aug. 15, 2012

  Roger Ernest Bancroft, born to Nellie and Ernest Bancroft on Dec. 19, 1926, in San Francisco. His parents moved to Sacramento in 1935 where his father founded Capital Wholesale Electric Co. Roger attended Sacred Heart and graduated from C.K. McClatchy High School Class of June 1944. He enlisted in the Medical Corps., United Staes Navy. After the war, he was self-employed in the printing business in Sacramento. Later he moved to Vallejo and started Sonoma Printers. He obtained his real estate license in 1980. He was a published author, a professional photographer and world traveler. He was past president of Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce and former chairman of Sonoma County G.O.P. Central Committee and a long-time member of Sonoma Valley Rotary Club.

  He and his wife, Jean, owned Bancroft’s Flowers until they moved to Penryn, in 2003 to be nearer to family.

  Roger’s roots are firmly planted in Sonoma as his grandparents arrived in Sonoma in 1917. His father, Ernest, and his aunt, Dorothy, went to Sonoma High School. During his school years, Roger spent much time each summer vacation and holidays in Sonoma.

  He is preceded in death by his parents, Nellie and Ernest Bancroft and sister, Barbara Brown. Roger is survived by his wife, Jean, and four daughters and three sons, Margie Mower, Jim Eli, Mark Eli, Catherine Ford, Eric Bancroft, Carolyn Hartung and Diane Pasterick and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

  A memorial service will be held at the United Methodist Church in Lomis, on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, at 2 p.m.