COL (USA-Ret) Roger Vinson Sheffield

Dec 17, 1935- July 20, 2014 Roger V. Sheffield Colonel, U. S. Army, Retired of Islamorada, Florida, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in Birmingham, Alabama on Sunday, July 20, 2014. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to George W. and Annie Lou Vinson Sheffield on December 17, 1935. Family, friends and classmates in Jacksonville called him "Vinson". Roger attended the University of Florida just long enough to meet his future wife, Nancy Cook, of Fort Pierce, Florida, whom he married in 1961. He received a B.S. in Math & Physics from Jacksonville University in 1962 and an MS in Information and Computer Science from Georgia Tech in 1975. Commissioned a 2nd Lt after graduating from Officers Candidate School in the interim between colleges, Roger began a military career in 1963 which spanned more than thirty years. Tours of duty included two in Vietnam, the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, DC, and five years as commander of military communications for Europe and the Middle East (ISEC EUR). His medals include Legion of Merit (1 OLC), Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), and Vietnam Service Medal (5 campaigns). He and Nancy retired to their family home in the Florida Keys in 1992 and spent the remaining years enjoying the Keys with family and friends. Roger was a sailor, pioneer scuba diver and cave explorer. His hobbies included studying history, visiting historic sites, and working with wood. He built the furniture, cabinets, shed, dock and fences for his Keys house and after retiring guided the construction of a new sanctuary, office building and columbarium at his church, St, James the Fisherman, in Islamorada. Survivors include his wife, Nancy; sons, Matthew Sheffield (Virginia) and Keith Sheffield (Gina); grandchildren, Molly Sheffield, Annie Sheffield, Madeline Sheffield, Chloe Sheffield, and Crawford Sheffield, all of Birmingham, Alabama; sister, Julianne Sheffield Kirchain of Jacksonville, Florida; nephews, William Kirchain (Debbie), Randolph Kirchain (Sharron); niece, Shirley (Jim) Coleman; great nieces, great nephews and many dear friends. Visitation is on Thursday, July 24, 5-7 PM at Ridout's Valley Chapel, 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood. A private funeral service and burial at Alabama National Cemetery will follow on Friday, July 25. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's of Central Alabama (alzca.org).

Arrangements under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel, Homewood, AL.