Charles Milton “Jim” Roscoe passed away peacefully, with family at his side, on October 13, 2016 in Eureka, CA at age 93. Born January 18, 1923 to Stanley Boughton Roscoe and Martha Emma Beer Roscoe, Jim began his life on the family ranch in the Mattole Valley before moving to Eureka in 1928 to attend school.

A love for learning was clear throughout Jim’s life, both as a dedicated student and a university professor. From Eureka High School, graduating co-valedictorian, he attended Humboldt State until his enlistment in the Navy V-12 program and was transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. He attended Officer Candidate School and received his commission as Ensign, assigned to the Naval Civil Engineers’ Corp (the Seabees). He proudly served his country designing projects in the Western Pacific Theater, notably the radar tower that replaced the famous flag raised by the marines on the top of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima. Upon honorable discharge he continued his education, completing his Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering at Stanford University.

On August 29, 1948 Jim and Mary Patricia Gross were married. They shared 35 wonderful years until her untimely loss to cancer in 1984. Devoted to family, together they raised three sons, Jamie, Rob and Tom, and were giving, supporting and loving parents. They shared with their sons a love of camping and the outdoors, music, theater and time spent with friends. Jim particularly enjoyed deer hunting on the Mattole family ranch with his close friend Darrel Brown.

Jim was blessed to spend the last 15 years of his life in the loving company of Doris Mullen of Kneeland and her four-footed friend Buffy. Together they enjoyed travel, music, crossword puzzles, a good game of cards and laughter-filled Sunday family brunches.

While he enjoyed working in both public and private sectors, including his private practice, as a highway engineer for Caltrans and as City Engineer for Arcata, his true passion was teaching. For 40 years, Jim shared his passion with his Humboldt State students, including organizing the original Civil Engineering degree program and seeing its accreditation in 1960. After a one-year sabbatical at UC Davis in the early 1970’s, Jim was instrumental in transforming the Civil Engineering program to an Environmental Resources Engineering program, one of the earliest in the nation. The Engineering Materials Laboratory at HSU is named in his honor, and the Roscoe-Schenler scholarship supports promising future Environmental Engineers.

In the 1960s Jim partnered with his long-time friend Earl Biehn, and as part of their development in Bayside, Jim designed, and together they built the covered bridge on Brookwood Drive, which qualifies for listing on the National Register of Historic Places for its local significance.

Jim enjoyed the challenges of land surveying, which he continued into his late 80s, including monument restoration work with Mike O’Hearn in the Mattole Valley, an area dear to Jim’s heart, and where he maintained a home throughout his life. Named Surveyor of the Year by the California Land Surveyors Association in 2006 at age 83, he took pride in resolving thorny discrepancies in previous surveys. His civic contribution included many years on the Humboldt County Building Department Board of Appeals.

Jim was a lifelong lover of music. He sang with the Humboldt State a cappella choir, with the Humboldt Harmonaires and the Redwood Chorale, participating in several overseas tours. He had a keen wit and enjoyed wordplay of all manner; puns and limericks were his playground. He was a man of integrity, with a strong moral compass. Jim was a generous, loving man who delighted in bringing joy to others and did so daily. He was every dog’s best friend. He always had a kind word and a welcoming smile, and could find a learning opportunity in any situation. Jim would light up a room with a song on his lips and a twinkle in his eye. He will be greatly missed.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Stan and Martha; brother, Stanley Nelson “Neb” Roscoe; wife, Mary Patricia; and an infant daughter who died at birth. Jim is survived by his three sons and their partners: James Martin Roscoe and Kimberley C. Collins Roscoe of Bayside; Robert Stanley Roscoe and Deborah J. Lynch Roscoe of Davis; and Thomas Patrick Roscoe and Clinton Dean Rebik of Eureka. Grandchildren include Daniel, Michael, and Matthew Roscoe, Sara Smith, and Lauren Worrell. Great-grandchildren are Elanora Roscoe and Nathan Smith.

A private ceremony will be held at the Roscoe Family Cemetery in the Mattole Valley. A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bayside Grange Hall, located at 2297 Jacoby Creek Road, Bayside. All that knew Jim or were touched by his life are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes any remembrances be made to the Roscoe-Schenler Engineering Scholarship Fund at Humboldt State University.

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The obituary above was submitted by Jim Roscoe’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.