Mr. Marvin Elwood Rodgers

Marvin Elwood Rodgers of Palmdale, CA, passed away Sunday, June 22, 2014 following a lengthy illness. Mr. Rodgers is survived by his beloved wife Antoinette (Nettie) I. Rodgers; daughters Beverly R. (Gene) McCabe of Chandler, AZ, Debbie L. (Dennis) O’Brien of Willoughby Hills, OH, and Vicki L. (Mike) Simko of Ashtabula, OH; sons Cameron D. Rodgers of Northridge, CA and Gary D. (Erin) Rodgers of Murrieta, CA; granddaughters Erin E. (Aaron) Abed of Painesville, OH, and Bridget O’Brien of Willoughby Hills, OH; step grandson Will Cerasale of Cheviot Hills, CA; granddaughter Emma C. Rodgers of Murrieta, CA, and his pet cat Mikey II.

Mr. Rodgers was born in Colebrook, OH, the son of Joseph Camden (“J.C.”) Rodgers and Ethel Sucretta Elwood Rodgers of Colebrook, OH. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Junior and Edwin Rodgers of Colebrook, two sisters Velma Rodgers of Colebrook and Dorothy Williams Pikus of Chatsworth, CA, a son James C. Rodgers of Ashtabula, OH, and his pet cat Mikey I.

A Tech Sergeant, Mr. Rodgers served in WWII as a Radio Operator and Mechanic Gunner in the Army Air Force 447th Bombardment Group as part of the 711th Bomb Squadron flying missions in a B-17 over Germany. A rifle Marksman and pistol Sharpshooter, he was awarded the EAME Theater Ribbon with Three Bronze Stars and the Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters. He was a member of The Mighty Eighth - The Eighth Air Force Historical Society, Inc. and a member of the Lucky Bastards Club having flown 34 missions on the Flying Fortress “Sweet Seventeen.”

Mr. Rodgers was a member of the National Association of Realtors and the California Southland Regional Association of Realtors, Inc. He owned and operated Rodgers Real Estate Agency in Ashtabula, OH, and later owned and operated Allied Way Financial in Reseda, CA. He was also a Realtor-Associate at Gold Star Realty in Encino, CA. Mr. Rodgers served as an official Real Estate Appraiser for the State of Ohio and testified in court hearings. Along with his wife Nettie, he served on the Ohio Beautification Program committee in the 1960’s and received recognition in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Rodgers served as a member and officer in several Masonic Lodges in the northeast Ohio area, including the Ohio Knights Templar, Columbian Commandery #52 in Ashtabula, OH. He was a member of the Knights of the York Cross of Honour, Ohio Priory No. 18. He was Past Illustrious Master of the Grand Council Royal & Select Masons of Ohio, Geneva Council No. 145. He was a 65-year member and Past High Priest of The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio, Grand River Chapter No. 104 in Rock Creek, OH. Mr. Rodgers also served on The International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay, John T. McMillan Chapter in Ashtabula, Oh. He was also a member of the El Kadir Grotto in Ashtabula.

In his lifetime, Mr. Rodgers enjoyed golfing, fishing, ballroom dancing, playing cards and chess, solving crossword puzzles, and recording movies from Hollywood’s golden era. He loved telling jokes and inventing original stories with pun endings.