Percy Rogers Jr.

Percy Rogers, Jr., loved and respected by all who knew him, was born on June 7, 1948, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the late Vivian and Percy Rogers. He grew up in Southwest Philadelphia, was popular in the neighborhood, had good friends and was fortunate to maintain some of those relationships throughout his life. Educated in the Philadelphia Public School System, Percy graduated from John Bartram High School, where he loved to play basketball and sing. He and his friends, Kirk King and Lamont King, formed a neighborhood doo-wop group and they were known to sing the night away on the street corners of their neighborhood. In 1967, Percy and Kirk King joined the Air Force together and there began Percy’s lifelong military career as an Aircraft Environmental Systems Technician, and later a trainer and instructor. As an airman, Percy served around the world, starting in Thailand during the Vietnam War, then Europe, the Middle East and other parts of Asia, and was bestowed with numerous medals for meritorious service, outstanding unit and National Defense. He retired as MSGT Percy Rogers, Jr., a Master Instructor, receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal for outstanding technical knowledge and instructional abilities that directly enhanced the overall mission effectiveness of the U.S. Air Force in Europe, and the successful conversion of the first F-16C/D aircraft unit. As much as Percy loved the Air Force, he equally loved basketball, and his athletic prowess won him a place on the team at every base where he was deployed. He excelled on the court, and has a plethora of trophies and awards to show for it. When the time came for him to hang up his basketball sneakers, he shifted his attention to coaching, rising to become Head Coach for the AFSC team at Dover Air Force Base, where he worked for 26 years. In retirement, you’d find him happily glued to ESPN. Percy was known to his friends and family as a smooth, down-to-earth, quiet charmer, who stood for no nonsense. He had an inner strength and unbelievable resilience, which carried him to the very end. With a big smile and warm heart, Percy was fiercely loyal. He and his same childhood friends, Kirk and Lamont, who happened to be born on the same date as Percy, always called each other on their birthdays, every year, no matter where they were in the world. Percy was preceded in death by both his parents; aunts, Jackie and Barbara Holte; and uncle, Thomas Hogans. Percy is survived by his loving family, wife, Jannette Rogers; two aunts, Patricia Edwards and Ruth Rogers; two sisters-in-law, Pamela Reaves and Michelle Andre; four step-children, Benjamin Spears, Marcus Wilkins, Andre Wilkins and Salawa Szenyai; and step-grandchildren, Amani Wilkins, Zoe Wilkins, Blaze Wilkins and Akiro Thomas; as well as many cousins and dear friends. Percy was truly one of a kind, never to be forgotten!

Percy Rogers Jr.

June 7, 1948 - February 27, 2021