Obituaries

Delbert Dean Rogers

Photo of Delbert  Dean Rogers
Delbert Dean Rogers, 87, joined his Heavenly Father Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013. He was born July 22, 1926 to John Hollis and Versia Mae Rogers in Marsden, Ark. in rural Bradley County. Known by Dean to his many statewide friends and Papaw to the apple-of-his-eye grandson, he was also known as Mr. Rogers to the hundreds of elementary students he lovingly taught for 23 years in the Monticello, Texarkana, and Hope School Districts. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Fayetteville. An Army veteran and one of 10 brothers and sisters, Dean returned home from service in Korea and learned the HVAC trade. Encouraged to attend Ouachita Baptist University, he was ordained as a Baptist minister and, after graduation, attended Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. It was while serving as an interim preacher in Washington, Ark., he noticed the beautiful Juanita Jones sitting in the front pew – a relationship that would grow into a 57-year marriage partnership filled with love and unity. After choosing not to enter the ministry, he put his HVAC training to work at the Fort Worth General Dynamics plant while welcoming the birth of their only son. An opportunity to return home to Arkansas as an administrator at the Arkansas Baptist Home for Children in Monticello set the stage for a career change to teaching five years later – an opportunity that allowed his love of children and gift of communication to mold so many lives and insured that his students would always know how to work fractions. He and his adoring "Baby," wife Juanita, retired to Northwest Arkansas in 1990 to be near their newborn grandson. The couple built many wonderful memories following the Razorbacks near and far, attending family reunions, and regular trips to Hot Springs and their second homes on Lake Catherine and Lake Hamilton where they would delight in the joy of retirement with friends and family through pontoon rides, domino games of Mexican Train, card games of Hand and Foot, and potluck evening meals. He was always eager to share his pride in his son's 20-plus years' work with the Arkansas Razorbacks as both a student and adult and with the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. Retirement was made complete as Papaw had the opportunity to see his only grandson grow from backyard swings and ice cream treats to graduating with honors from the University of Arkansas in 2013. Patient and generous, Dean spared neither trait on his precious Greg. Friends were always certain to hear the latest joke Dean had heard but knew not to engage him in conversation until after at least the first few cups of coffee each morning. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Bea Dixon, Jean Martin and Mary Phillips, and two brothers, John Hollis, Jr. and Rudy Rogers. Survivors include wife Juanita of the home, and son Bill with daughter-in-law Julie and grandson Greg of Springdale; brothers Max Rogers of El Dorado, Rex Rogers of Houston, Texas, Harold Rogers of Diana, Texas; and sister Gay Powell of Warren. Funeral services will be Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 at 2 p.m. at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville, with Dr. Douglas Falknor officiating. Burial will follow in Bluff Cemetery in Springdale. The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20 at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be: James Bingaman, Lance Johnson, Tony Fletcher, Gary Martin, Harold Stewart, and Don White. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1324, Fayetteville, AR 72702 or the Arkansas Baptist Home for Children, 10 Remington Drive, Little Rock, AR 72204. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.nelsonberna.com

Published October 20, 2013

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