John A. Rogers

John Alvin Rogers, 76, passed away on Monday, April 10, 2023 at Retsil Veterans’ Home in Port Orchard, Washington where he had resided for a number of years. Born December 19, 1946 in Dennison, Ohio, he was the son of William Arlington Rogers who preceded him in death on April 29, 1973 and Friederika A. “Frieda” (Schulte) Rogers who died on June 4, 2009.

John grew up in Tuscarawas where he was a member of Sharon Moravian Church. He was a 1964 graduate of Tuscarawas-Warwick High School before attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio until his enlistment in the U. S. Navy. John served his country in the Navy and Naval Reserves from 1967 until his retirement from military service as a Chief Petty Officer in 1988. While stationed in Vietnam, he served on Brown Water river boats on the Mekong River where he was exposed to Agent Orange which greatly impacted his health for the rest of his life.

Much of John’s adult life was spent living in the American Southwest, including Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, before spending his later years in Oregon and Washington. He was a talented writer and educator, having been a writing tutor and a teaching assistant while on faculty at Pima Community College, during which time we was named in the 1988-1989 Who’s Who in the American Southwest. He also did technical writing.

John will be deeply missed by his surviving family which includes his beloved sister whom he called “Dee”, Edith (John) Santee; nephew, Matthew M. Lawver; niece, Sarah (Ray) Kosmala; great-nephews, Gabriel, Jacob, and Zachary Kosmala; and cousins, Patty Wright and Marsha Rafael. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his niece, Rebecca Anne Lawver, and cousin, Johanna “Honey” Marburger-Jones.

According to John’s wishes, cremation is planned, followed by burial at sea. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions honoring his memory may be made to the Tuscarawas County Pound, 1751 Tech Park Dr. N.E., New Philadelphia, OH  44663 to reflect his love for animals.