Col (ret) Roland Bruce Rogers

Funeral service for Col (ret) Roland Bruce Rogers, 88 of Lawton, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 20, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church of Lawton with Rev. Rose, pastor of First United Methodist Church officiating.

Burial will be at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, Oklahoma  under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home.

Col (ret) Rogers passed away on Monday, October 16, 2017 in Lawton. 

Roland was born an only child from a loving family. Born in El Campo, Texas. During his 32 years of active military service, some of his assignments included Battery Commander, Battalion Motor Officer, 1st Air Cav 1 year in Vietnam, Division Artillery Supply Officer, Division Artillery Special Weapons and Inspection Officer, Corps Plans Officer, Corps Fine Systems Coordinator Officer, Tactics and Combines Arms Instructor, Army General Staff Officer, Battalion Commander 5th Battalion 42nd, Army for 1 year in Vietnam and the Defense and Army Attache to South Korea for 4 years. 

He received many awards and medals including the National Defense Service Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with 5 Service Stars, Army Commendation Medal and 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 8 awards, Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal with 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, General Staff Identification Badge, Armed Forces Service Medal 1st Class, Pokuku Hunchang Samil Chang Republic of Korea, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf) Korean Service Medal, General Staff Identification Badge, Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st Class. His unit awards included the Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnam Civil Action Medal Unit Citation, and the Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st Class Vietnam. 

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sylvia Rogers, of the home; two daughters, Rebecca Sink and Deborah Lynch;  six grandchildren and their spouses, Shelley Hampe, Elizabeth and Marcus Mitias, Rachael and Cory Jerch, Summer and Chris Rogers, Brandon and Whitney Ransdell, and Brian Ransdell; eight great grandchildren, Wyatt Hampe, Shelby Hampe, Amelia Mitias, Emerson Jerch, Gordon Rogers, Emily Ransdell, Annabelle Ransdell, and Everett Ransdell; and his sister in law, Alice Chisholm and her husband, Pat.    

His greatest pride was the education of his daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren. All of their Diplomas are currently hanging in his home. This also included the diplomas of his grandsons and granddaughter in law. 

He was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and a charter member of the Wichita Mountain Estates Volunteer Fire Department which he utilized until his death. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church at 2602 NW Ferris Ave, Lawton, Oklahoma 73505.  

 Service Information