Booth, Roger Duane

WASHINGTON - Roger Duane Booth, 71, of Washington, died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010, at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City following a lengthy illness. Celebration of Life services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, at Jones-Eden Funeral Home in Washington, with the Rev. Julie Poulsen officiating. Visitation will begin noon Sunday at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. Private family interment, with military honors conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29, will take place at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington.

Roger was born June 17, 1939, in Washington, Iowa, the son of Dale Eugene and Virginia (Kephart) Booth. He attended school in Washington and graduated from Washington High School in 1957. Roger attended the University of Iowa. He served two years in the United States Army.

In 1959, Roger founded and was a member of the musical group, the Escorts. The Escorts later became known as the Do's and the Dont's. Roger's last performance with the band was in December 2009. They were proud to be one of the first inductees to the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He worked for the Washington County Ambulance Service in the early 1970s and helped his parents at the Blue Note Cafe. He later worked at Windows on Washington, sold life insurance for AEGON in Cedar Rapids and worked for Lear Corporation in Iowa City, retiring in 2005.

Roger is survived by his daughter, Lauri Guzman and husband David of Fresno, Calif.; son, David Hunter and wife Toni of Washington, Iowa; son, Kip Booth of Bakersfield, Calif.; daughter, Misty Bruner and special friend Art Hess of Hills, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; mother, Virginia Booth of Washington, Iowa; brother, Stephen Booth of Davenport; brother, Douglas Booth of Branson, Mo.; brother, Bradley Booth and wife Debbie of West Chester; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1991; daughter, Kristi Neil; and son-in-law, Mark Bruner.

Memorials have been established for the Washington County All Veterans Memorial.

Online condolences may be sent for Roger's family through the web at