BOMBER MEMORIAL

JERRY RICHARD RODGERS ~ Class of 1967
July 7, 1949 - October 30, 2009



Jerry Rodgers, 60, of Richland, died October 30, 2009 in Richland.

He was born in Sunnyside on July 7, 1949 and had lived in the Tri-Cities for 52 years.

He was a roofer.

Life Tributes Cremation Center, Kennewick, handled the arrangements.

Published in the Tri-City Herald on November 4, 2009.


Written by Jerry for the 40-year Reunion Booklet in 2007:

"While traveling in the southern states, I stopped in Oklahoma where I met my wife, Patty. We've been married for 21 years. Patty is a manager at Applebee's in Richland. For the last 25 years I have lived in Richland.

My Mother and Father are also in Richland. I have one brother, Gary ('68), who is one year, one month and one day younger than me. He and his wife live in Richland where Gary is a retired Captain of the Fire Department. His wife was a firefighter, Fire Captain and is now the Department Chief.

My life has been a series of incredible experiences, some of them planned, but many of them unplanned. For instance, I had a goal to hitch hike to Chicago, but I met a guy who was traveling south. He took me to Southern California and across the Southern States. We road together into Oklahoma which is where I found Patty. If I had waited for someone else to take me to Chicago, I would never have met my wife. I didn't accomplish my goal, but by following a path I seemed drawn to, I found my partner for life.

Bobby Wright ('67), one of our classmates who passed on, was a friend of mine. He worked on crabbing boats in the Aleutian Islands. One year I decided to join him. The second day after I arrived, I fell off the dock and broke my neck. I was air lifted to a hospital in Anchorage where they were prepared to deal with my injury. Paralysis took over my legs. At first, the doctors were unclear about whether I would regain feeling. Every day I would ask the guy in the next bed to hit my legs to see if I could feel them. It is frightening to lie on a bed and look at your legs when you think you are moving them, only to see they are motionless. Yet, after a few weeks I started moving my toes and ultimately regained my mobility. I had suffered spinal shock. Doctors told me to be prepared for possible neck problems in my later years, but so far, I don't have any.

After leaving the hospital in Anchorage, I made my way back to join Bobby again. Although I tried to work on the crab boats, I really wasn't in the proper shape. I had to leave Alaska for other adventures.

While I was young, I went to Spokane Community College. Then, I traveled to Europe and Africa for 1 1/2 years. Although I've been to most European countries, I really enjoyed my time in Munich and the Island of Crete. At another point in my life I lived in Victoria, Canada where I started a landscaping business with another Bomber, David Ford ('66). I found the way to make yourself have an adventure is to buy a one-way ticket, and then you have to use your imagination to find a way out.

A good friend of mine is Harry Walker ('67). Harry and I lived in Montana for three years. We were roofers, and we worked for Coca Cola. Harry is a friend you can count on. He travels around the country a lot, but he comes to Richland every year and always visits with me. I'm fortunate to have him in my life.

Two other people, one from our class and her husband, have made a huge impact on my life. Reneé WALTON Fraley ('67) and her husband, Pat Fraley, are my true friends. We talk often on the phone. When I was going through a rough patch in my life, Pat gave me various jobs working with him in his 'Voice Over' acting business. I will always be grateful for the kindness and support that Reneé and Pat have given me.

The one thing I have learned in my life is to do what you can while you can. Don't wait, because life takes its turns and twists in a second."

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).