Edward Paul Rogers

Ed was born on March 16, 1932, in Sayre, PA, the second son to Stanley James and Genevieve Ethel (Kinner) Rogers. He was a graduate of Athens High School in Pennsylvania where he was a stand-out football player for the Battling Bulldogs. He personally kicked off the Blue and White Pigskin Parade for 1949. Quiet off the field, but murder in the fray, as a guard “Rugged Rogers” ripped the foe on both offense and defense. Following high school Ed entered the Marine Corps in October 1950. In the process of being deployed to Korea he met up with his older brother, Wayne, in San Francisco who was serving in the Army. They had a wonderful time seeing the sights of the city before being shipped off to war. After serving his country, Ed received an honorable discharge in September 1953 and returned to PA. He became reacquainted with Mary Nellie Sobiech, whom he married in March 1954. He attended college on the GI Bill and received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and later in his career continued his education to receive a Master of Science in Systems Management and a Master of Arts in Counseling/Psychology. In the early years of his first marriage, the family moved as he was promoted and accepted new positions within the aerospace industry. Beginning in New York, within 3 years the family moved to Indiana. From there he went west to Washington, Arizonia, Denver, Idaho, then Alabama before settling in Florida in December 1965. He also spent the years 1972 and 1973 in Mississippi working on nuclear submarines in the shipyards of Pascagoula and then California for work on the space shuttle program before returning to Florida.

He began raising a second family when he met and married Marie Ann (Lane) El-Hawary in November 1980 and gained two young stepdaughters, Dina (Scott) Roberts and Cherene (Chuck) Watkin. Ed loved his association with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as did his new wife and family. Later, as a High Priest, he served in various service capacities as a Temple worker at the Orlando Temple. It gave great peace and meaning to his life. During this time he also became extremely interested in genealogy research, spending years tracing his family roots back to England and the 1600’s and beyond.

He retired from the North American Aviation in 1992 but did not retire from life. He met and married Shirley Jean (Carlson) Rogers in January 1997 and gained 3 more (adult) stepchildren, Chris (Paul d.2002) Therber, Theresa Teague and Larry (Aida) Teague. Ed did not especially enjoy traveling, but he did enjoy a trip to Wales and, also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity renovating a home for a widow in Portugal. His engineering background was of great help in problem solving drainage issues with that home. Everyone was always clamoring for his expertise, which he gave of cheerfully. He volunteered for over 20 years at the local hospital in Rockledge delivering medications and supplies to the nursing floors and assisting with the taking of blood pressures. His hospital volunteer work was abruptly stopped during the Covid pandemic, as the hospital removed all volunteer services to help contain spread of the disease.

Ed will be greatly missed by his son and daughters Randolph (Gina) Rogers, Cindy (Joe d.2018) Rogers-Brunner and Brenda (Morgan) Hill from his first marriage to Mary Nellie (Sobiech) Zeininger, and his stepchildren Dina (Scott) Roberts, Cherene (Chuck) Watkin, Chris (Paul d.2002) Therber, Theresa Teague and Larry (Aida) Teague and all his extended family of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews. He touched so many lives in his 93 years, it’s impossible to list them all by name.

He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Wayne (Marjorie) and Jack (Barbara) and his sister Rosemary (Walter) Ackley.

A Celebration of Life Service will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 2:00 – 3:00 pm at The Church of Latter-day Saints 1801 S. Fiske Blvd., Rockledge, FL 32955. In lieu of flowers, donations to the MDS Foundation or the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.