Lamar Franklin Rodgers was born to Annie Estelle Horne Rodgers and Johnie Newton Rodgers on May 12, 1922. He had 4 brothers and 1 sister. He was born in Bentonia, MS and his family moved to Yazoo City, MS shortly after his birth. His father ran a sawmill and his mother was a homemaker. He had a wonderful time as a boy going out to his grandparents farm and playing in the surrounding fields and pastures and fishing in their pond. World War II came along when he was twenty and both his parents had to sign for him to enlist as in those days you had to be 21 years old to legally enlist on your own. He became a top turret gunner on a B-25 (these were small bombers and were called the baby bombers especially by the men who flew the big bombers such as the B-17). He had one confirmed kill. They were shot down on their 36th mission. They ditched in the Mediterranean Sea. All aboard survived. Lamar spent 21 months as a “guest” of the Germans in Stalag 17B which was comprised of about 15,000 Prisoners of War, of which approximately 5,000 were Americans.
When the war ended he came home and work for some months then went to school at Hinds Junior College. He met the great love of his life Robbie Belle Bishop at Hinds Junior College and they spent 48 years together. They had 3 children, 2 girls and a boy. He retired in 1964 and came HOME to Mississippi in 1965. Lamar Franklin Rodgers loved his Lord, his family and his country and was willing to die for all of them.
A pavilion service for Lamar will be held Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Lakewood Memorial Park, 6000 Clinton Blvd., Jackson, Mississippi 39209.
Lamar will be laid to rest in Lakewood Memorial Park, 6000 Clinton Blvd, Jackson, MS 39209.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lakewoodfuneraljackson.com for the Rodgers family.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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