Merle Rodger Tobias

Rodger was born June 10th, 1942 in Hornell the son of Merle and Belldean (Eves) Tobias. He grew up in Hornell and graduated from high school there. Subsequent to graduation, Rodger served his country in the United States Navy from July 21, 1959 until his honorable discharge May 6th, 1963. After returning from the Navy, he resided in Geneseo for a few years before settling in the Perkinsville area in 1967 until his move to Raleigh, NC in 2007.

Rodger and Barbara Cox were married June 8th, 1973 in Dansville and together they have celebrated 40 years of marriage. His employment career spanned a couple of different areas as he worked as a mechanic at Dansville Chrysler Plymouth for 15 years and after that he was a truck driver of Owens Brothers and New Penn. Rodger enjoyed gardening and all kinds of outdoor yard work. He volunteered in many organizations, including the Dansville Boy Scouts Troop #49; the Knights of Columbus; and he joined the Dansville Moose Lodge in 1971 and served four years as the Governor of the Dansville Lodge.

Rodger was pre-deceased by his parents, Merle and Belldean Tobias; a son, George Tobias in 1993; brothers Wayne and Victor Tobias. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Tobias of Raleigh, NC; his children, Michael (Zyra) Tobias of Wayland, Bruce (Joanna) Tobias of Rochester, Kevin (Dawn) Tobias of Atlanta and Bryan (Meghan) Tobias of Youngsville, NC; his step-daughters, Kimberley (Chris) Martello of Linwood, NY and Dawn Sherman of Orlando, FL; his grandchildren, Zackary, Ethan, Matthew, Jared, Angeline, Erika, Samantha, Bella, Brock and Doninique; his siblings Eleanor Arnholt of FL, Delores (Dave) Long, of PA, William Tobias, of FL, Gene (Linda) Tobias, of FL, Margaret Jarman of FL and Chuck (Theresa)Tobias of Hartsville, NY; his brother-in-law and his wife, James (Verna) Cox of North Tonowanda, NY; his sister-in-law and her husband Diane (Terry) Sawdey of Groveland Station, NY; along with several nieces and nephews.

Rodger’s family and friends may call Wednesday from 1:00 – 3:00pm and 6:00 – 8:00pm at the St. George-Stanton Funeral Home, 109 West Naples St., Wayland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Rodger on Thursday at 10:00am at St. Mary’s Church in Dansville. Committal prayers, military honors and interment will take place immediately following at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Perkinsville.

Memorial contributions in Rodger Tobias’s memory may be made to the Vincent House, 310 Second Ave., Wayland, NY 14572.