William "Harry" Rodgers

William Harrison "Harry" Rodgers, 91, of Sedalia passed away Thursday, March 2, 2017 at Winchester Meadows Enhanced Assisted Living in Sedalia. He was born on May 10, 1925 in Lancaster, SC the son of Oscar and Sara Jane (Kirk) Rodgers, who preceded him in death.

On August 27, 1947 in Kansas City, KS he was united in marriage to Virginia Evelyn Barker, who preceded him in death on February 28, 2005.

Harry was a 1942 graduate of Lancaster High School in South Carolina. He served his country honorably from 1942 - 1943 in the United States Army and then from 1943 - 1946 in the Navy CB's serving in the Philippines. Harry enrolled in Radio Communication Technical School and graduated in 1947. Harry worked in Lake Charles, LA from 1947 - 1951, where he built a radio station from the ground up for KPLC Radio. He moved to Kansas City in 1951 where he worked for the state of Missouri installing and servicing radio equipment for the Kansas City Police Department until 1954. He then went to work for Communication Engineering Company where he met his longtime friend and business partner Ernie Kettner. He and his partner Ernie, opened Central Communications Service Company at Whiteman Air Force Base in 1962. He installed and serviced all of the two-way radios for WAFB and 99% of the contractors related to the Minute Man Missile Program at the Base. In 1965, he and Ernie built a communication shop in Sedalia to provide communication services to Sedalia and the surrounding areas. On December 6, 1976 they began RadioPhone providing mobile phones, pagers and answering services to Sedalia and surrounding areas. Harry fully retired 1986.

Harry was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Sedalia Rod and Gun Club since 1961. He earned his Eagle Scout Honors in 1937, and was a member of the Military Band as a trumpeter.

Harry is survived by two daughters, Becky Moore and her husband Cliff and Sally Downard and her husband Gene; five grandchildren, Aaron, Nate, Rachel, Christopher, and Emily; six great-grandchildren, Madison, Jack, Callie, Harrison, Kenzie, and Josie; and many nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his longtime companion Iris Jones of Sedalia.

In addition to his wife Evelyn and his parents, he is also preceded in death by four sisters, Annie Martin, Ethel Bennett, Alma Parker, and Louise Beckham, and a brother, Jack Rodgers.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2017 at Our Savior Lutheran Church with Pastor Chris Kellogg and Pastor Andrew Tessone officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Full Military Honors will be conducted by Sedalia VFW Post #2591 and the Navy Honor's Team of Kansas City, MO.

Memorial contributions may be made to Crossroads Hospice or Our Savior Lutheran Church in care of Rea Funeral Chapel.