Charles Hamilton Rogers Sr.

CHARLES ROGERS DARLINGTON - Lt. Col. (Ret.) Charles Hamilton Rogers, Sr., age 90, died Saturday, October 20, 2012, at the McLeod Hospice House. A graveside funeral service was held Tuesday, October 23 in Grove Hill Cemetery directed by Belk Funeral Home. Born in Hartsville, SC, the son of Paul and Arabelle Thomas Rogers, Mr. Rogers graduated from Clemson University in 1948 with a degree in mechanical engineering (part of the class of 1944). He served his country with the United States Air Corps as a Bombardier from 1942-1945. He also served with the SC Army National Guard of the United States as a Company Commander of the Darlington 201st Medical Battalion. He was transferred in January 1968 to command the 51st MP Battalion in Florence, SC and retired as the Battalion Plans Operation-Training Officer in 1972. He was employed by American Can (Dixie Cup) as a mechanical engineer and plate plant manager until his retirement in 1980; then was a partner for seventeen years with his nephew George Rogers in the business, Industrial Reclaimers. Mr. Rogers was a past president of the Darlington Kiwanis Club. He was a member of Saint Matthews Episcopal Church, serving as a senior warden, a Sunday school teacher, and on the vestry. Surviving are his wife, Adrienne H. Rogers of Darlington; his children: Kathy R. (Bob) Brannon of King George, VA, Charles H. (Melanie) Rogers, Jr. of Darlington, Mary R. Ridgeway (Stanley Byrd) of Hartsville, SC and Anthony P. "Hank" Rogers of Darlington; grandchildren: Carly Ridgeway, Mary Kate Brannon, Sarah Rogers, Adrianna Brannon, Charlie Rogers, and Elizabeth Brannon; siblings: J. Thomas Rogers of Mechanicsburg, PA and Ruth R. Nielsen of Hartsville, SC ; sister-in-law, Anna G. Rogers of Hartsville; also, 13 nieces and nephews. Mr. Rogers was preceded in death by a brother, Paul H. Rogers, IV. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to McLeod Hospice, Post Office Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502 - 0551(www.mcleodfoundation.org) or Kalmia Gardens of Coker College, 1624 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550. An online guestbook is available @ www.belk funeralhome.com.