Roger M. Lampman, 83, died Jan. 21 at Blaine Manor of natural causes. He was born the son of William and Marguerite Lampman on Aug. 30, 1925, in Binghamton, N.Y. He grew up there with his brothers, Bill and Marty, and graduated from high school there. He graduated from the Syracuse University system with a B.A. in history.
During World War II, he served his country as a paratrooper in the Pacific. When he returned from the war he met, fell in love with and married his wife, Doris. They were married for 52 years before her death in 2002.
In the early 1960s, he and two of his closest friends began Lignacraft, one of the original job shops, in Binghamton. It was highly successful, but in 1966, a ski trip to Colorado convinced him to move his family West. They moved to Boulder and he started another job shop, Western Devices, in the Denver area. A few years later he sold his company to General Devices, and stayed on to run it as the Western regional vice-president.
During his career he mentored and helped many young people who now state that they wouldn't have reached their level of achievement without his help.
When he retired in 1986, he and Doris moved permanently to Hailey, Idaho, in the Sun Valley area, where they could ski, hunt and fish to their hearts' content.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Marty and his wife, Doris. He is survived by his older brother, Bill Lampman (Betsy) of Binghamton, and by his daughters, Ellie Wymore (Kenneth) of Iowa and Pamela Perry and Kathy Seewald of Hailey. Also surviving him are his grandchildren, Kristen, Jonathan and Jeremy Intemann, and (Ellie's) and Kathy's daughter, Amber Seewald, whom he helped to raise.
His time here on earth was truly, in the words of his favorite singer, Nat King Cole, "unforgettable."
He asked to be cremated and to have his ashes scattered with those of Doris and their dog, Belle, at the Meadow of the Flowers in the Sawtooth Mountains. This will be done in June. A notice will be placed in the paper at that time. Anyone wishing to attend will be welcome.
His cremation is being handled by Wood River Chapel in Hailey.
Memorials may be directed to the family in care of Kathy Seewald, Box 1402, Hailey, ID 83333.
