Frank Eugene (Gene) Rogers

Frank Eugene (Gene) Rogers, 91, of Hazen, Ark., passed away Oct. 12, 2012, at his home. Gene was born on March 17, 1921, in Hazen, to Frank Eugene and Mona Beatrice Pirtle Rogers. He was a lifelong resident of Hazen, and he graduated from Hazen High School. While serving in the U.S. Army in World War II, (from 1943 until 1945), he was awarded a medal for European-African Middle Eastern Campaign, the Bronze Star Medal for heroic action during the Invasion of Southern France on Aug. 15, 1944, and Victory Medal for World War II. He was from and was a part of the "Greatest Generation!" He returned home to Hazen and married Elma Mildred Campbell on Sept. 6, 1946. He worked for the Arkansas National Guard at Camp Robinson and Hazen until the early 1950's when he began his career as parts manager for a General Motors dealership. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, camping, traveling, and going to the local coffee shop. In his latter years he and his sister, Wanda, enjoyed the camping trips to Lake Greeson in the spring and Lake Ouachita in the fall. They also traveled to Europe and Alaska on several occasions. In recent years he looked forward to going to the local coffee shop every morning to see his friends and reminisce about the past and also to talk about what was going on in town. He was a member of the Hazen First United Methodist Church where he attended Sunday School and church. Gene was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mildred in 1998, and his sister, Wanda Rogers Gerety in 2006. He is survived by his son, Frank Eugene Rogers III of Hazen; his daughter, Carol Jo Lambert and husband, Tony of Stuttgart, Ark.; grandchildren, Scott Lambert and Mark Lambert of Stuttgart, Ark.; Brandie Rogers Monroe and husband, Michael of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Gary Frank Rogers of Hazen and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, at Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen. Services will be at 10 a.m., Oct. 15, 2012, at the First United Methodist Church in Hazen. Interment will follow at the Hazen Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of the Hazen Cemetery. Online obituary at www.westbrookfuneralhomehazen.com.