George Walter “Sonny” Rogers, of New Hope, TN, died on Saturday, November 10, 2012.
He was an avid pilot and restorer of antique and classic airplanes, having restored seven airplanes with two Grand Champion status. He lived long enough to build his dream home. He served 22 years active duty in the U. S. Navy and got to travel the world and saw places he did not know you could get to from Jasper, TN. His favorite place was Israel and tour of the Holy Land. After he retired from the U. S. Navy in 1979, he worked for the Navy and retired from the Charleston, SC Naval Weapons Station in 1993. He loved to play baseball and traveled the world and played on Admiral McCain’s U. S. Navy Goodwill Team for four years while serving in the Navy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Beatrice Blanche Jones Rogers and Walter Leonard “Duck” Rogers; brothers, Franklin Delano Rogers and Roy Arnold Rogers; and son, Wendell Richard Rogers.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jeanie, of 35 years; his children, James Travis, Rogers (Iris), Atlanta, Joseph Troy Rogers (Kim), Mechanicsburg, PA, Ellen Mae Wilkins Butts (Doug), Ft. Mill, SC, Donna Gail Wilkins, Taylors, SC, Cissy Rogers McNabb, Lafayette, TN, Diane Rogers Richardson (Dwight) , Lafayette, TN, Sonnie Rena Higgins, Sequatchie, TN, George Walter Rogers, Jr. (Tracey), Cleveland, Rhonda Michelle Rogers Borger (Bernie), Townville, TN and Youlonda Thomas, Cleveland; his brothers and sister, Lewis Kelly Rogers, James “Jim” Richard Rogers, William Kenneth Rogers (Claudia), Brenda Sue Rogers Gilbert (Dewey) and Michael Leonard Rogers; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at Tate Funeral Home, at 2 p.m. CST, Wednesday, November 14, with Rev. Gene Lewis and Rev. Ernie Maxwell officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 13, from 4-8 p.m. CST. Interment will follow at Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Baptist Hill Baptist Church, Building Fund, PO. Box 999, Jasper, TN 37347.
Tate Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.