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James E. and Wanda L. Rogers

James E. Rogers and Wanda L. Rogers will be buried at Arlington Cemetery on June 5, 2019. They were married for 63 years and will be buried together. Jim will be buried with honors for his military service. They were born in 1928; Wanda was 6 weeks older than Jim and he loved to tease her about being the older woman. Wanda died in May of 2016 from bowel surgery complications, including a stroke. Jim died in December of 2017 from natural causes and complications of dementia and TBI.

Born in Copley, Ohio, Wanda received a teaching degree from Kent State University in 1950. She taught high school physical education until her marriage to Jim, when she became a world traveler and mother. Wanda was an avid reader, loved the greater outdoors and was a good listener. She liked wildflowers, birds, family dinners and being involved with the Lutheran church. She was the glue in her family — a fabulous mother who gave the best hugs.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Jim met Wanda in high school when they were both 16 years old. He became an officer in the U.S. Air Force. During this time he completed college at Trinity University with a degree in psychology. Jim was a navigator and worked in Air Force Intelligence. After retirement, he got his master’s degree in psychology at Ohio University, and worked as a school psychologist in southeast Ohio. Jim liked Wanda’s home cooking, dopey dogs, church, family, canoeing and hiking in the national parks. Jim had an opinion about most things.

Jim and Wanda are survived by their children, Kathy, Holly and Tim; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his nephew, Michael Hampton.

The lessons of giving, paying it forward and loving people for who they are were Wanda’s and Jim’s gifts to us. If you knew Jim or Wanda and you want to do something to honor their passing, then take the time to give.