Dr. William “Bill” Rodgers departed this life suddenly on Jan 29, 2017 surrounded by his loving family in Chambersburg, PA. He was 89.

The fourth of five children of the late Judge Decatur Hedges Rodgers and Annie Lancaster Rodgers, he was born February 14, 1927 and raised in Martinsburg, WV. In high school he volunteered to serve in the Navy during WWII and was honorably discharged in 1946. He received his B.A. in English from the University of Virginia in 1950 and his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College in 1954.

Dr. Rodgers married the one and only love of his life, Margaret “Peggy” Wilkinson in 1953. He completed his residency training in pediatrics at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA and returned to Martinsburg in 1957 in response to a calling to serve as the community's first pediatrician. In 1980 he left private practice to become the plant physician for DuPont in Falling Waters, WV. Dr. and Mrs. Rodgers were active members of the community of Martinsburg for 30 years until they moved to Aiken, SC in 1987, where Dr. Rodgers became one of the plant physicians for the Savanah River Plant.

As a pediatrician, one of his proudest accomplishments was spearheading the vaccination program to eradicate polio in the 1960's. Dr. Rodgers was an outstanding pediatrician and cared for hundreds of children and eventually their children during his years in Martinsburg. He loved his work and contributed to the development of many children’s services in Martinsburg including a heart clinic with visiting Pediatric Cardiologists from Baltimore and DC.

Dr. Rodgers was an active Rotarian and member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Martinsburg and St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church in Aiken. He retired in 1999 from the Savannah River Plant in Augusta, GA. After retirement he was an active volunteer with Meals on Wheels and Read Aloud programs. In 2016, he moved to Menno Haven, in Chambersburg, PA, to be closer to his family.

Dr. Rodgers was a devoted husband of 50 years and a loving father to his five children. His hobbies included woodworking, needlepoint and being a general handyman, and idleness was not a trait of his. He will be remembered by his children as fiercely independent, frugal, steadfast, and always honest. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a Good Samaritan and a true gentleman.

Dr. Rodgers was preceded in death by his parents, his three brothers, Decatur Hedges Rodgers, Jr., Nathaniel Lancaster Rodgers, and James Beall Rodgers, his sister, Mary Ann Futrell, and his wife Peggy who died in 2007. He is survived by his children Katherine R. Mason and her partner Ken Bethany of Martinsburg and her son David; William L. Rodgers, Jr. and his wife Cindy of Warren, OR and their children James, Stephen and Sara; James C. Rodgers and his wife Lisa of Martinsburg and son Lex; Dr. Margaret (Megan) R. Campbell of Richmond, VA and her children Margaret, Mary Brett and Madeline; and Allen W. Rodgers and his wife Carolyn and their children Bradley and Ashley of Anthem, AZ; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Friday, February 3, from 5:00 to 7:00 at Brown Funeral Home in Martinsburg, WV.

The family plans a memorial service on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 1:00 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Shepherdstown, WV.

Interment will be private at a later date.

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