Ronald Dean “Ron” Rogers, age 86, died peacefully Thursday, May 3, 2018 at Williamson Medical Center.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, May 10 at 2:00 P.M. at Columbia First United Methodist Church with Rev. Chip Hunter and Rev. Tommy Vann officiating. Interment will be in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 12:00 P.M. until service time at the church. Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home is assisting the family. Condolences may be made at www.oakesandnichols.com.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Columbia First United Methodist Church, 222 West Seventh Street, Columbia, TN 38401, designated for either the Choir Fund or the Building Fund.
Ron was born December 13, 1931 in Estherville, IA to Clarence McKinley Rogers and Beryl Alto Yant Rogers. The family lived in several Iowa communities during the Great Depression and War years, with Ron graduating from Creston High School, Creston, IA in 1949.
Ron earned a Bachelor of Science in Music from the University of Iowa in 1953, beginning his career as a K-12 music teacher in Durant, IA, that same year. On August 15, 1954, Ron married Janet Marie White after her graduation from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In 1955, the couple moved to Davenport, IA where Ron became a member of the Quad City Music Guild, performing lead parts in several shows including the role of the Prince in “The Student Prince”. While in Davenport, Ron was employed by a music store and by a Columbia Records distributor.
1956 was a big year for Ron and Janet. Ron joined the JC Penney Company in Des Moines, IA and made the transition to retail store management. The years in Des Moines also saw the birth of all three children. Ron continued his career with JC Penney for 15 years including store management roles in Melrose Park, IL and Newport, AR. At each stop, Ron continued his involvement in church music, the arts and community service organizations.
Ron came to Columbia, TN in June 1971 as assistant manager of the Parks-Belk department store. From 1976 to 1984, he owned and operated The Triangle Shop, a retail store oriented toward maternity, infants, and children. Ron subsequently worked in sales with local retailers before joining the Brown and Bigelow Company, a distributor of advertising specialties as an area salesman. He held this position until a stroke forced his retirement in 2014.
Ron was very active in the Columbia and Maury County community, and especially so in the arts. The family attended Columbia First United Methodist Church where Ron sang in the choir, was a frequent soloist, and served as a fill-in choir director. Ron was involved in the early years of the Columbia High School Band Boosters and the Columbia Invitational Marching Band Contest. He was also busy with the Maury County Arts Guild, performing lead parts in musical productions and serving as music director for several shows. In 1985, Ron began a nearly three decades-long run producing variety shows of his own design to entertain the public, provide opportunities for local talent of all ages to develop their gifts, and financially support the important work of the Maury County Arts Guild. Ron’s shows became known as “The Follies” and featured a wide range of music from the Great American Songbook, Broadway, and other popular genres, all performed by local talent.
Always a dedicated member of the Kiwanis Club of Columbia, Ron served as a board member and for many years as music committee chairman. The Kiwanis Choir he organized performed special programs on Good Friday, Christmas, and around the Fourth of July.
Ron is survived by his wife of 63 years, Janet Marie White Rogers; three children, Bradford D. Rogers (Patricia), Marc R. Rogers (Amanda), Linda M. Hawkins (James); seven granddaughters, Tabitha Holder Fong (Azuk), Rebekah Holder Reach (Brett), Christina Holder, Brianna Rogers Rumble (Chase), Lauren Rogers Miller (Blair), Kathleen (Kate) Rogers Rice (Michael), and Margaret (Claire) Rogers; one grandson, Timothy Rogers Holder; two great-granddaughters, Vitoria Elena Siquera and Adelyn Anne Miller; and five great-grandsons, Logan Clay Reach, Aaron Lee Reach, James Aaron Madrigal, Christian Everett Madrigal, and Michael Eamon Rice.
