Dale G Rogers

Dale Graham Rogers passed away at Panorama City in Lacey at the age of 96. He was born in Olympia, WA. at his home on Wilson Street on February 18th, 1927 to George and Christine (Graham) Rogers. He attended Washington Elementary and Jr. High Schools and Olympia High School, graduating in June 1945.

Soon after graduation he enlisted in the US Navy. After finishing boot camp in San Diego and awaiting transfer, WWII ended and he opted to stay in for a 4 year hitch, allowing him to attend Navy schools in Chicago, Jacksonville, FL, and Lakehurst, NJ before a year’s assignment to Naval Air Station at Sand Point, near Seattle and then two years serving as a Weather Technician on six different ships operating in and out of San Diego, Ca.

Dale married his high school sweetheart Patricia (PATT) Medbury in June 1948 and after his discharge in August 1949 the couple moved to Seattle and raised two young sons in a small houseboat on Portage Bay while attending the University of Washington, using a small row boat to commute to school for the next four years. He remined in the Naval Air Reserve at Sand Point during that time. Dale earned a B.S. in Meteorology in 1953 and was almost immediately awarded a commission in the US Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. His first assignment was a 30-month tour of duty in Wheelus AFB near Tripoli, Lybia where his family was able to join him after a short separation. Subsequent moves took them to McCord AFB, WA, Graduate School at the UW, the Air Force Climatic Center in Washington, D.C., three years near London, England, and his final seven years at SAC HQ-Offutt AFB in Belleview, NE.

While in England he completed his hard-earned M.S. degree in absentia from the UW. He retired from the Air Force in June 1972 as a Lt Colonel and he and Patt and their youngest son Bill returned to settle in the Olympia area. The older two sons stayed on in college in Nebraska. After his retirement he worked for the State Department of Ecology as a computer systems analyst/programmer, retiring again in 1987. During the time he and Patt lived in their home on Johnson Point he enjoyed maintaining their long, forested driveway and trail system, gardening, and the two of them boating and fishing in the South Sound.

During these years he and Patt made many boat trips to Anacortes, meeting friends and relatives to explore the San Juans, Canadian Gulf Islands and Princess Louisa Inlet. They were long-standing members of the Olympia Do-Si-Do Square Dance Club with whom (and with other area clubs) they enjoyed several Caribbean Cruises and flights to Mexico. At the age of 80 Dale was on the roof of their 2-story house cleaning gutters when he decided he should not be doing this anymore. Very soon thereafter they sold their property and moved to a house at Panorama City in Lacey, and a much easier lifestyle.

Dale was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years Patt, his and Patt’s parents, his son Douglas, and a dear companion Eljo Sutherland. He leaves behind his sons Steve (Cindy) of South Cle Elum, WA. and Bill (Vered) and three grandsons Roi, Matan, and Dvir of Tiberias, Israel. Dale advised his sons that he wants no services upon his death.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mills & Mills Funeral Home in Tumwater, Wa. Online condolences may be left at millsandmillsfunerals.com.