Ret. Col. Thomas A. Rogers, 96, passed away on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 in Montgomery, Alabama. Funeral services will be from Leak-Memory Chapel at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 10 with Rev. Francis Turner officiating and Mr. Steve Moreno delivering the eulogy. Burial will follow at Elam Church in Goshen, Alabama. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Col. Rodgers was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Eva Rodgers, his brother, Eric Rodgers and his daughter, Terry Ann Rodgers. He was also predeceased by his first wife, Peggy Green Rodgers and his second wife, Frances Kelly Rodgers. He is survived by his beloved wife, Joan Turner Rodgers, step-children Angie (Phil) Mitchell, Emmett Turner, Matt (Tiffany) Turner, Sue (Elton) McGough, and Nancy Wilson

Other survivors include his nieces Linda (Hjalmar) Sveinsson, Kay (Jim) Logan and nephew Joseph Rodgers and his great-nephew, Mr. Steve (Lauren) Moreno. Thomas Rodgers was born on August 22, 1915 in the Rodgers Community in Goshen, Alabama. After graduating high school at the age of 15, he received degrees from the

University of Alabama and the University of Michigan. He became a Mathematics Professor at Mississippi State University. Prior to World War II he enlisted in the Army Reserve and was assigned to the Army Artillery. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was called to active duty and was detached to the Army Air Defense Artillery in the Panama Canal Zone. After the war he accepted a regular commission in the Army Artillery and served with distinction until his retirement in 1965. He served several tours at the Pentagon and was a long-standing member of the Missile Committee. His last active duty assignment was at the Army Missile Command Headquarters at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. After his retirement from the Army, Col. Rodgers served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Athens College in Athens, Alabama.  Col. Rodgers was a member of the Masons, Scottish Rite, and Alcazar Temple.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Whitfield Memorial United Methodist Church, 2673 Fisk Road, Montgomery, AI. 36111 or to the National Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.