Walt Rodgers dies at age 100

Walt Rodgers, farmer, veteran, one-time deputy sheriff, two-term Jay County Commissioner and longtime community leader, died Friday at Miller’s Merry Manor in Dunkirk.

He was 100.

Rodgers was heavily involved in his community, being elected Jay County Commissioner for the southern district and serving eight years. He also served as a deputy sheriff from 1963 to 1967, an era when the entire department was composed of the sheriff and two deputies.

He had also served on the Jay County Sheriff’s Merit Board for 12 years, on the Dunkirk Glass Days Committee for 10 years and on the Jay County Development Corporation board for eight years. He was inducted into the Jay County FFA Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Cincinnatus League Hall of Fame in 2003.

Born May 13, 1920, in Blackford County, Walter R. “Walt” Rodgers was the son of Alonzo G. and Orla Gay (Needler) Rodgers.

He graduated from Matthews High School in Grant County and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Of his three and a half years in the service, he spent 33 months overseas.

“I was in three years, six months and eight days,” said Rodgers in an interview for a story about his 100th birthday last year. (He was less than a month away from his 101st birthday at the time of his death.) “I never had a furlough from the time I got in until I got out.”

He married Margaret Vivian (Glascock) Rodgers on Feb. 21, 1948. She preceded him in death on Aug. 11, 2008.

Together, they purchased 120 acres of farmland northeast of Dunkirk in March 1956 after Rodgers saw an advertisement for the property. They would later add another 60 acres to what would become the Rodgers family farm.

“I was kind of interested in getting my own place then,” he said. “The barn was one of the best in the county.”

In addition to working on his farm, he was also employed at Indiana Glass Co. in Dunkirk for 13 years and at MJS Mortuaries in Dunkirk, Redkey and Ridgeville for more than 15 years.

His time in the military led him to join the American Legion. He was an active member for 76 years, serving as commander of the Dunkirk post in 1961 and ’62 and from 2002 through 2016.

He was sergeant at arms for 47 years and was in charge of the color guard and firing squad for parades and military rites.

“I was the one that started this color guard and drill team in Dunkirk,” he said in April 2020. “We bought some new uniforms and got to parading all over the county. Wherever there was a parade, we were usually there.”

He estimated that he served in the color guard for military rites for between 300 and 400 funerals for U.S. military veterans.

“I just took control,” he laughed. “We’re not going to be in a parade unless we were in step.”

He was also a member of VFW Post 7081 in Dunkirk.

Rodgers is survived by two sons, Gary (wife: Sharon) and Dennis (wife: Chris); five grandchildren, Jeff Blakely, Randy Blakely, Rich Rodgers, Shellie Rodgers and Derek Rodgers; 10 great-grandchildren; a step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian; brothers Everett and Howard Rodgers; stepson Ronald Blakely; and granddaughter Danielle Rodgers.

Visitation for Rodgers will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at MJS Mortuaries – Redkey Chapel. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Pastor Joe Hines officiating. Burial will follow in Dunkirk IOOF Cemetery with military honors.

His full obituary can be found by clicking the obituary tab above.