A 73-year-old Vietnam War veteran and longtime house painter from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, died on May 9, 2026. Roger Wayne Sweetman passed away peacefully, leaving behind his wife of nearly 42 years, family members, and a community that knew him as a reliable contractor and a proud patriot. Garvin County residents have expressed sorrow over the loss of a man whose life balanced military service, skilled labor, and family commitment.
Sweetman served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Fellow veterans recall that he carried the discipline and resilience from those years into every other part of his life. He rarely spoke about the dangers he faced overseas, but he remained active in veteran circles and respected the sacrifices of those who served alongside him.
After returning to civilian life, Sweetman built a career as a house painter and residential contractor. Clients appreciated his honesty and attention to detail. He showed up on time, finished what he started, and did not cut corners. Many homeowners in the Pauls Valley area hired him repeatedly because they trusted his work. His reputation rested on quality rather than advertising.
Sweetman married Valorie Joan Norman in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on July 16, 1984. The couple remained together for more than four decades. Friends say they rarely saw one without the other. They attended community events as a pair and supported each other through health struggles and economic changes. Their marriage was widely regarded as a model of loyalty and mutual respect.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery Pavilion in Pauls Valley. Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home is handling arrangements for cremation. The outdoor pavilion setting offers a quiet space for friends and family to gather, share memories, and pay their respects. No burial information has been released.
Sweetman is survived by his wife Valorie and a network of friends and former clients who will remember him as a veteran who painted houses, kept his word, and stayed married to the same woman for over 40 years. Anyone wishing to honor his memory may attend the memorial service or reach out to the family through the funeral home.
