Roger Hambright Memorial and Medical Fund

We have set up this memorial fund to help cover funeral expenses, medical expenses and to help our mom during this difficult time.

The man, the myth, the legend, Roger Dee Hambright was born March 26, 1949 in Sunnyside, WA. He was a mischievous child, always getting into trouble with his older brother Ron and younger sister Karen. He was gifted at baseball from the time he put on his first glove. Being the first person to be drafted to the Majors in Vancouver, WA and playing for the New York Yankees. He played for the New York Yankees in 1971. In 18 career games, he had a 3-1 record with a 4.39 ERA. In the minor leagues, he compiled a career record of 76 wins and 62 losses, with 57 saves, and a 2.77 ERA in his 359-game pitching career with the Johnson City Yankees, Fort Lauderdale Yankees, Kinston Eagles, Manchester Yankees, Syracuse Chiefs, West Haven Yankees and Ciudad Juarez Indios. He began playing during the 1968 season and last took the field during the 1977 campaign.

He met the love of his life, Rita Hambright, in 1977. Only dated a few months and they knew it was forever. They married in 1978 and had a love story that most would call a fairy tale. For the next 45 years they were inseparable, except for his hunting and fishing trips of course.

Roger Hambright passed away on April 15th at 11:23am after a long and hard battle with cancer. After 16 rounds of chemo and a round of immunotherapy, his body could not take much more. He battled the extensive side effects he had with each treatment and kept pushing forward. He wanted to stay for his family and did everything he possibly could. His round of immunotherapy had the worst side affects you could imagine and his body and soul could not take anymore. We took him to a hospice facility to help him get some rest, little did we know he would not be coming home. He was given 24-48 hours on a Tuesday and as always, he defied the odds and passed away Saturday with his loved ones surrounding him.

The first night he was in the hospice facility, he was heavily medicated for his pain and anxiety. My mom was right be his side as she always has been. His feet were swollen and in immense pain from neuropathy. He loved our mother so much, he somehow found the strength to get out of bed, standing up, shaking and holding onto the bedrails to find my mom sleeping on the couch. She woke up hearing his low raspy voice calling her name. She held him and called for the nurse. After a few hours, he did it again. I’m not sure of the definition of love, but to me, that sums it up right there. He would have done anything to get to her. I also know he would have wanted her to be taken care of and we are asking for your help to do that.

Our ultimate goal is to help our mom pay off the home they lived in for 45 years. We know that is asking a lot and don’t expect to raise that much but anything you can donate to help would be immensely appreciated.