Roger Ernest Buffum

Roger Ernest Buffum, of Emporia, passed peacefully on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Roger was 77.

Born on October 17, 1946, in Ft. Madison, IA, his family relocated from Nauvoo, IL to Wichita, KS where he graduated from Wichita East High School. Roger proudly served in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam from 1964-1967. He was a true entrepreneur and had been self-employed most of his life.

Roger and his wife, Linda, established the Commercial St. Diner in 1994. For 15 years, he served the people of Emporia with his love language, food. Previously, Roger and Linda, owned and operated the Village Restaurant in Burlington and Starlight Diner in Wichita.

Roger is survived by his wife, Cherlyn and his beloved Chocolate Lab, Halea; children, Tiffany Pratt (John), Stephanie Barbrey (Jamie), Joshua Jordan (Margaret), Sara Jordan-Pickett (Chad); grandchildren, Kalin, Jordan, Katie, Tanner, and Henry; and his adopted nephew and nieces, Hunter, Morgan and Kelsey.  He is predeceased by his wife of 38 years, Linda Kay (Bair) Buffum, and parents, Ernest and Mildred.

Roger bequeathed his body to The University of Kansas to teach others.  A Celebration of Life will be held at the Lowry-Funston Post #1980 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Emporia on March 15, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. with military honors by Lowry-Funston Post #1980 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ball-McColm Post #5 American Legion.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the USD #252 Southern Lyon County Honor Flight in care of the Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175. Emporia, KS 66801. The Honor Flight organization provides all-expenses paid trips for veterans to our nation’s capital. Roger took great pride in traveling with his fellow veterans.