Roger C. Dill, 87, of Tifton passed away on Thursday, September 12, 2024. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 15, 2024, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Roe and the Rev. John Hughes officiating. Family will receive friends one hour before the service. Roger will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Roger was born on September 17, 1936, in Atlanta, Georgia. Roger was the son of the late Cecil Aubrey Dill and Elizabeth Paulk Dill. He was also preceded in death by the love of his life, JoAnn Smith Dill. They were married for 66 years. Additionally, he was preceded in death by his brother, Randy Paulk Dill.
Roger led an active life. He graduated from Irwin County High School and Auburn University. He was always a sports enthusiast. Roger played football on the Irwin County High School state runner-up football team. He coached youth sports and officiated high school football. Roger was an avid golfer. Additionally, he enjoyed hunting. He was always proud of assisting in the engineering and construction of the Tift County High School Stadium. Roger loved his Auburn Tigers.
As a civil engineer, Roger’s involvement in community was very important to him. His interest was always addressing the critical needs of infrastructure and transportation to Tifton, Tift County and the State of Georgia. Roger was an engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation for 23 years where he participated in the construction of I-75 and many other roadways. He later went to work in private industry for Scruggs Company and then for Reeves Construction Company as President. While in private industry, he served on the Georgia Highway Contractors Board and the National Asphalt Pavement Association Board. After retiring from Reeves, Roger served as interim County Manager for Tift County and started his own business as a consultant.
Roger’s involvement in community also carried over to many civic functions. Roger was an Eagle Scout. He served on Boards and committees for Ruth’s Cottage and Patticake House, Abraham Baldwin College Foundation, Georgia Agrirama Authority, Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce, Tift County Development Authority, Tift County Tourism Board, YMCA, Tift County Recreation Department, Tifton Rotary Club, and Springhill County Club. Roger led the charge for the new facility currently housing The Patticake House. He was also instrumental in getting the Dwight Eisenhower Interstate System Monument in Tifton.
Roger was a member of First Baptist Church of Tifton. He also served in the Army National Guard.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Tracy Whitesides and Lee of Tifton; two grandsons Ches Whitesides of Atlanta, Georgia and Clay Whitesides (Lakin) of Jefferson, Georgia; and one great granddaughter, Bryn Whitesides.
The family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to his caregivers Janice Pearson, Denise Webb, Faye Hall, and Brenda Lawson. The family also wishes to express many thanks to Legacy Village of Tifton and Traditions Hospice for their care of Roger.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Ruth’s Cottage and Patticake House, P.O. Box 2727, Tifton, GA 31793.