Richard Thomas Rogers

Richard Rogers January 2, 1915 – January 20, 2007 Richard Thomas Rogers, 92, of Hewitt, departed this temporal life and entered into heavenly rest on January 20, 2007. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, January 25 at First Baptist Church of Hewitt with Rev. Roy Marshall officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, January 24, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Richard was born on January 2, 1915 to Richard and Eleanor Perry Rogers. His mother passed away when he was very young. His father subsequently married Elizabeth Patton, who was a loving and devoted mother. Mr. Rogers accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior as a child and was active in church throughout his life. He was a deacon at Hewitt First Baptist Church where he had been a member for 26 years. Richard graduated from Lockhart High School. During World II he served as a finance officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the European theater. Before and immediately after the war, Richard was employed by Lone Star Shoe Service in Austin as a store manager and chemist. He later co-founded Gleam Chemical Products in Austin. The corporation manufactured cleaners, dyes and finishes for the shoe repair industry. Richard was united in marriage with Carolyn Kay on June 6, 1964. This union was blessed with two children, David and Dianne. The family and Gleam Chemical moved to Hewitt in 1977. Richard retired in 1980, but continued to work part-time at Gleam through 1993. In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by a half-brother, Belmont Rogers, and a sister who died in infancy. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn of Hewitt; son, David Rogers of Cego; and daughter, Dianne Baker and husband, Charles of Lockhart. Richard is and will continue to be greatly missed by family and friends, but all are grateful that he no longer suffers. We of the family wish to express thanks to those who have prayed for us and ministered to us over the last several years. Memorials can be made to Hewitt First Baptist Church. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey