Richard Oren "R.O." Rogers

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Richard Oren "R.O." Rogers, who left us peacefully on February 9, 2026, at the age of 83.

Born on July 3, 1942, in Fowlerton, Indiana, Richard was the beloved child of Barbara Thomas Rogers and Clifford Oren Rogers. From an early age he loved to play sports, especially basketball and baseball, although he excelled at all sports. He continued to share his love of sports with his children and grandchildren, coaching their teams and playing pick-up games at family gatherings.

After high school Richard joined the US Air Force where he served as a military policeman for eight years. He then joined the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington D.C. where he became a K9 officer and trainer. After retiring from the police department, he started Mid Atlantic K9 consultants, training police officers and their K9 partners.

Richard had a very full life, guarding Air Force One and being awarded Airman of the Year Honors while in the US Airforce. As a DC Police Officer, he once walked into a bank in the middle of a robbery. He got one of the bad guys and always said if he had had his K9 partner Ceasar with him he would have had them both! He enjoyed traveling with his family and chasing moose in Yellowstone and Maine to get that perfect picture. He touched and influenced so many lives in a positive way with his kind spirit and love for police canines. Of course, we all have German Shepherds!

Richard was a long-standing member of Hope Lutheran Church in Wake Forest, NC where he was an usher, a member of Men of Hope, the Disaster Response Team, and Habitat for Humanity. For many years he enjoyed playing on the church softball team.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Carolyn and grandsons Patrick and Andrew.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Trudy. They met in Plattsburgh, NY where their love story began. His daughters Cheryl Rogers and Lisa (Dean) Reid; Grandchildren Rhonda (Brett) Parker, Eric Reid, Brandon Stanley, Heather Reid, Nathan Reid, and Ethan Reid; Great Grandchildren Camden, Shane, and Blake. He was fondly known as "Pop-Pop". He is also survived by his brother Mike and many extended family members. Family was at the center of his life, and he took great pride in supporting, encouraging, and celebrating those he loved.

A memorial service will be held on February 28th,11AM, at Hope Lutheran Church Wake Forest with a reception to immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Hope Lutheran Church, honoring Richard's memory and legacy. https://hopelutheranwf.org/give/ or to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org.

Though our hearts are heavy, we are grateful for the time we shared and the countless memories that will continue to guide and comfort us. Richard's legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the love he gave so freely.

May he rest in peace. He will be greatly missed.

Please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.

Bright Funeral Home is serving the Rogers family.