Roger Jennings Giles

Roger Jennings Giles was born on October 18th, 1940 in Wailuku, Maui, Hawai’i to Alfred and Evelyn Giles. He graduated from Hawai’i Preparatory Academy in 1958, and went on to attend Washington State University on a swimming scholarship, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education. Roger then married his first wife, Brenda West and went on to complete his required coursework to become a Registered Physical Therapist at Stanford University, graduating in 1963. After the birth of his first two daughters, he settled in Newberg, Oregon and opened his own practice Newberg Physical Therapy. Several years later in 1978 Roger married his second wife, Diane Bixby who worked closely with him growing his physical therapy business and giving him two more daughters. In addition to his career as a Physical Therapist, Roger also spent time working for the Newberg Police Department as a reserve police officer, as an Emergency Medical Technician and as a Respiratory Therapist. Ever curious and exploring the world around him, Roger partook in an exceptionally wide variety of hobbies including: flying, judo, karate, swimming, scuba diving, archery, hunting, fishing, cooking, photography, writing poetry, singing and guitar.  

               Throughout his life Roger Giles was passionate about living the Rotary motto, Service Above Self. While his work was in the health and service industries, he also spent his life volunteering for a multitude of organizations including: Rotary International, Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, Gibbs Hall Hunter Safety, Camp Cherith, several short term missions trips to Haiti with his beloved wife Diane, and on the Worship Team at Prineville Christian Church. From his childhood days spear fishing off the coast of Kaua’i, to piloting trips to the remote corners of North America, Roger lived with an insatiable thirst for adventure. He perceived the world around him with the soul of a poet, and a deeply rooted appreciation for people and the natural world. His happiest days were those in which he shared adventures and daily living with the love of his life, and wife of 40 years, Diane. She was his light and inspiration for living such an active and fulfilling life of service, and after her death in 2018, there was an irreplaceable hole in the heart of the adventurer husband she left behind. Roger died on December 14th, 2023 at his home in Prineville, surrounded by music and his four daughters, at the age of 83. Preceded in death by his beloved wife and co-pilot Diane, and his parents Alfred and Evelyn Giles, Roger leaves behind his four daughters: Keri Doty; Becky (Clinton) Gash; Megan (Kenny) Rutledge and Paula (Julio) Martinez; his eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and his three siblings: Vicki (Ray) Giles; Nancy Maroney and Steve (Elevila) Giles. A celebration of Roger’s life will be held on January 27th, 2024 at 1:00pm at Powell Butte Christian Church. After the service, officiated by Dan Parks of Prineville Christian Church, all are invited to stay for a lu’au to honor Roger’s life. 

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