Rodger DeLancey Bailey

Rodger DeLancey Bailey went home to be with the Lord on the 13th of November, 2012 in Hanford, CA. He started his life’s adventure in Southampton, New York on September 18, 1925. He was the older of two brothers born to DeLancey and Annie Pearl Bailey.

Rodger satisfied his fascination with aircraft by proudly serving his country during WWII in one of the first all-black bomber squadrons, the 477th and later in the 618th, in the United States Army Air Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

After WWII, Rodger started a 38 year career with the United States Post Office where he achieved the position of Postmaster. He also served with the Southampton Village Police Department and the Veterans Memorial Ambulance Club in Southampton, New York.

He was also one of the first black members of the American Motorcyclists Association, where he eventually served as chairman of District 4 in New York in 1954.

Rodger married the love of his life, Margaret Ann Hobday-Bailey in 1954 and shared over 50 years of married bliss with her until her death in 2005. He was predeceased by three of his five children, Yvonne Bailey, Rodger Bailey Jr., and Linda Bailey-Whalen.

Rodger retired to Arlington, VA until 2008, when he moved to Hanford, CA to be with family.

Rodger will be sorely missed, but not forgotten by his son Rodger Bailey II and wife Shirley of Hanford, CA, his daughter Judith Bailey-Jenkins and husband Howard of District Heights, MD; grandchildren Kenneth Bailey and wife Melissa, Tamara Bailey, Howard Jenkins Jr., Courtney Jenkins; great-grandchildren Elijah Bailey and McKinley Bailey as well as many other family members and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. with U.S. Army Military Funeral Honors at Calvary Christian Center; 11274 Hanford-Armona Road, Hanford, CA 93230 559-582-2009. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.