CONNEL
RODGERS, 89
AUBURNDALE - Mr. Connel Rodgers, 89, died of heart failure at Good Shepherd Hospice of Auburndale on September 22, 2012.
Mr. Rodgers is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nanette Rodgers; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Kip VanSteenburg and grandson, Kevin Paul Nugent of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; his son and daughter-in-law, John Wade Rodgers and Sandy Barton Rodgers of Winter Haven; three granddaughters, Emily Rodgers, Allie Rodgers and Natalie Rodgers; his brother, Gerald Rodgers, Lorain, Ohio; and his sister-in-law, Dr. Dorothy Llewellyn Rodgers, Bloomington, Indiana.
A United States Marine Corps veteran of World World War II, Mr. Rodgers received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in guidance counseling from Wesleyan College, West Virginia and served 26 years in the Polk County Schools as teacher, guidance counselor and principal, retiring in 1985 as an administrator at the Polk County School Board.
Gathering of family and friends will be at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 2425 Havendale Boulevard, Winter Haven 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 and A Celebration of the Life of Connel Wade Rodgers will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in the Oak Ridge Funeral Care Chapel. Graveside Military Tribute will be at Rolling Hills Cemetery in Winter Haven immediately following the Chapel service.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church, 700 North Lake Howard Drive, Winter Haven, Florida 33880; Calvary Baptist Church, 2101 Overlook Drive, Winter Haven, Florida 33881; Polk Education Foundation 1530 Shumate Drive Bartow, Florida 33830 or Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, Florida 33823.
Friends may visit online at www.oakridgefuneralcare.com to extend condolences to the family.
Arrangements are by Oak Ridge Funeral Care 2425 Havendale Boulevard Winter Haven, Florida.
Published in Ledger on September 24, 2012
