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Roger Edward Cawthon, 67, of Kitty Hawk, died May 12, 2020. He was born June 12, 1952, in Newport News, VA. He graduated from Ferguson High School (NN) and received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from which he graduated in 1975.

He served in the United States Army before going to work for Ford Motor Company as a design and test engineer. He later had a career as a sportscaster at the then-brand new CNN in Atlanta, GA. He moved back to Hampton Roads in 1981 where he became the Sports Director at WVEC-TV. In 1993, Roger opened American Builders of Virginia, Inc., which he managed until his retirement in early 2020.

Roger survived a life-threatening cancer in 1995 and became an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society, chairing the Todd Stadium Relay  For Life (Newport News) for two years and helping to create the Darling Stadium Relay For Life in Hampton for which he received the Board of Trustees Award for Outstanding Achievement from the American Cancer Society. Roger was taken by the very enemy he had devoted so many years to fighting.

Roger was preceded in death by father James Vernon Cawthon Jr. He is survived by mother Gwendoline Cawthon of Newport News; wife Kathy of Kitty Hawk; stepsons Ryan Corbett of Hampton and Reid Corbett of Chesapeake; sister Mary Priddy (Bobby) of Newport News; brother Rick (Martha) of Kitty Hawk; brother John (Jennie) of Elm City; five nieces, a nephew; three great-nieces and three great-nephews.

Roger would love to be remembered through acts of kindness to others. Donations to charities that support children with cancer and their families, first responders who fall in the line of duty and their families, and no-kill animal shelters would also be ways in which he would have loved to be remembered.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a public gathering to celebrate Roger’s life will be held at a later date.

Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories can be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.

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