Julian Rogers

Obituary of Julian Rogers On December 13, 2009 Julian Finley Rogers, totally at peace with his God and Man "slipped the surly bonds of earth and put out his hand and touched the face of God." This his favorite poem by John Magee borrowed and paraphrased as he too was a pilot and had soared alone " into the sunlit silence." He was born in Clarkton, NC to Finley Kirkpatrick and Marie (McCallum) Rogers on November 8, 1925, into this union 5 children were born: William Vernon Rogers, Raleigh, NC; Dr. Charles Herman Rogers, Raleigh, NC; Fred Wilton Rogers, Starke, FL; and one younger sister, Anna Marie (Rogers) Benfield, Hickory, NC who preceded him in death, October 25, 2002. He has one son, Julian Finley Rogers, II and a grandson, Jaxon Finley Rogers from Las Vegas, NV. After attending high school in Clarkton, NC he graduated from Appalachian State Teachers College (now University of Boone North Carolina) where he received his Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in mathematics and science. While at Appalachian, he was a member of the Playcrafters taking the lead in many of the foremost productions of that group. He was a member of Alpha Psi Omega, grand director of Playcrafters, yearbook managing editor, president of the student body his senior year and honored to be included in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. His graduate work was done at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. He then became a teacher of high school physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and general science at Henderson High School in Wilmington, NC and New Hanover High School in Wilmington, NC. Mr. Rogers served in the US Navy during WWII, the Korean War and the Suez Crisis and was commissioned Lt. Commander on his separation from active military duty. He joined NASA in 1963 and was known as a lecturer to a great variety of audiences including colleges, universities, engineering groups and high schools throughout the nation taking his space mobile overseas to France, Germany and England. On July 6, 1968 he married his beloved wife, Florence (Flo) Lehmann at the beautiful Wayfare Chapel on Portuguese Bend in Palos Verdes, CA overlooking the Marine Land of the Pacific in a twilight sunset ceremony. Despite major chronic cluster headaches that plagued him from that point on, he then pursued a very intensive career beginning with the Litton Ship Building industry in which he was very prominent in building the AWACS over the horizon system of defense being used in the present. He then proceeded to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in La Canada, CA where he again was influential, this time in the first landing of the Rover on the planet of Mars. In order to continue this incredible mission he had to obtain a degree of a Master of Science (West Coast University, LA, CA) to be allowed to be hired by the TRW Aeronautics Space and Technology Division of Defense in Redondo Beach, CA where his final major project you all saw in reality during the Persian Gulf War when he was able without secrecy to exclaim with great enthusiasm that the Cruise Missiles that were soaring above the Gulf was his final project as Quality Control Manager. Sandwiched within was a love of family, friends and travel which he and his wife pursued extensively. He left California for Murray, KY where he became Master of Masons and greatly involved in the Kentucky Shrine. He then left for Lady Lake, FL for his final retirement as it was increasingly apparent that it was time to rest for he had "done a hundred things he never dreamed of and topped the wind swept heights with easy grace." His main interest was now his church and his presence in choir and cantata music and in lay reading at Lady Lake United Methodist Church. His final membership was at Oxford Methodist Church where he was closer to his new home. His home away from home became that of the beautiful Arbor Village and yes, there is a "Church in the Wildwood" Florida where he left his earthly life on December 13, 2009 at 6:00 AM under the watchful eye of his favorite nurse, Belinda Brine whom he had known since August of 2008. A Celebration of Life and Military interment at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL are being arranged for early February, 2010. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Central/ North Florida Chapter of Alzheimer Association, 2010 Mizell Ave., Winter Park, FL 32792. Services A Celebration of Life and Military interment at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL are being for early February, 2010. Memorial Donation In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Central/ North Florida Chapter of Alzheimer Association, 2010 Mizell Ave., Winter Park, FL 32792.

Julian Rogers

November 8, 1925 - December 13, 2009