Roland F. Vawter, 84, passed peacefully away November 11, 2013 at LakeView Terrace Memory Care in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. His acceptance of Jesus, as his personal savior, gives us that assurance that he now resides in heaven. He was born July 13, 1929 in Saugus, California to Floyd and Mabel Vawter. In August 1974 he married Alice Ann Bauer at the First Christian Church in Reno, Nevada. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.

In 1946 Roland dropped out of high school on his 17th birthday to join the Navy. He served as radioman on the USS Springfield. In 1946-47, his first cruise was as Occupation Forces to Japan; his second cruise 1948-49 was a China Service patrol. He was released to inactive duty in April of 1950. Twenty months later he was recalled to active duty to serve in the Korean War. After a honorable discharge from the Navy, he found his niche in sales when he became employed by Firestone in Bakersfield, CA. He became their top refrigerator salesman by following the ice man around and selling refrigerators to those that were purchasing ice. He then became a Prudential Insurance Agent and at the age of 29 became, at that time, their youngest Regional Manager. In 1959 he moved to Reno, Nevada opening the first Prudential office there. Later he opened the first Minnesota Mutual Insurance office in Reno. He then moved into real estate becoming a real estate agent and one of Nevada’s first real estate brokers. At the urging of a friend, he went into the contracting business purchasing Nevada Homes, Inc. in 1972. One of his great joys was assisting young couples purchase their own homes. Over 20 young couples owe their home ownership to his assistance. An entrepreneur at heart, he also started Solar Town, which he later sold, and Tri-State Mortgage. His two passions were fishing and flying. He received his private pilot’s license on the GI bill at the age of 20 and logged 4000 hours during his 50+ years of flying. He loved fishing, especially salmon fishing on the Klamath river and in Lake Havasu. He and his fishing partner, Clete Gretter, had a combined total of over 50 years fishing the lake.

He is survived by his loving wife Alice Ann, his sons, Russell (Petra) of Caldwell, ID, and Richard of Reno, NV; two grandchildren Max Vawter and Nicole Idland, two great grandchildren, Carter and Avery Idland. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother and 2 sisters.

There will be no services. A Celebration of Life will be held in his honor next year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Havasu or to the building fund of Calvary Baptist Church.

Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.