Sonny Rogers

NEWHOPE George Walter "Sonny" Rogers went home to be with His Lord and Savior on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012.He was an avid pilot and restorer of antique and classic airplanes, having restored seven airplanes with two Grand Champion status. He lived long enough to build his dream home. He served 22 years active duty in the U. S. Navy and got to travel the world and saw places he did not know you could get to from Jasper, Tennessee. The most favorite place was Israel and tour of the Holy Land. After he retired from the U. S. Navy in 1979, he worked for the Navy and retired from the Charleston, SC Naval Weapons Station in 1993. He loved to play baseball and traveled the world and played on Admiral McCain's U. S. Navy Goodwill Team for four years while serving in the Navy.He leaves behind a loving wife, Jeanie, of 35 years and 11 children and many grand and great- grandchildren and his precious, Chihuahua, Molly.He is survived by his children, James Travis, Rogers (Iris), Atlanta, Ga., Joseph Troy Rogers (Kim), Mechanicsburg, Pa., Ellen Mae Wilkins Butts (Doug), Ft. Mill, S.C., Donna Gail Wilkins, Taylors, S.C., Cissy Rogers McNabb, Lafayette, Tenn., Diane Rogers Richardson (Dwight) , Lafayette, Tenn., Sonnie Rena Higgins, Sequatchie, Tenn., George Walter Rogers, Jr. (Tracey), Cleveland, Tenn., Rhonda Michelle Rogers Borger (Bernie), Townville, Tenn., and Youlonda Thomas, Cleveland, Tenn.; George is survived by his brothers and sister, Lewis Kelly Rogers, James "Jim" Richard Rogers, William Kenneth Rogers (Claudia), Brenda Sue Rogers Gilbert (Dewey) and Michael Leonard Rogers.He was preceded in death by his parents, Beatrice Blanche Jones Rogers (mother) and Walter Leonard "Duck" Rogers (father); brothers, Franklin Delano Rogers and Roy Arnold Rogers; and son, Wendell Richard Rogers.Funeral services will be conducted at Tate Funeral Home, at 2 p.m. CST, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 with Rev. Gene Lewis and Rev. Ernie Maxwell officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. CST.Interment with full military honors provided by the Sequatchie Valley Honor Guard will follow at Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Baptist Hill Baptist Church, Building Fund, PO. Box 999, Jasper, TN 37347To send online condolences visit www.tatefh.comArrangements by Tate Funeral Home, Jasper, TN, 423-942-9500