Randell Rogers

Randell (Randy) Eldon Rogers was born in Oak Park, Illinois to Vance and Connie Rogers on August 4, 1943. He exited this plane of existence on November 7, 2025. A few things happened in between.

The family moved to Wichita, Kansas shortly after Randy’s birth. He attended Wichita Public Schools, culminating in a year at East High before transferring to the newly-built Southeast High School, where he graduated with Southeast’s first group of students in 1961. While at East High, Randy was on the track team and was coached by the same man who would eventually go on to coach Jim Ryun. Following graduation, Randy’s immediate family (which now included a brother and two sisters) moved to the Detroit area (where Vance Rogers had a new job waiting).

1961 was a turbulent year. Rather than wait for the draft, Randy made the choice to enlist in the Navy, the same branch his father had served in during WWII. Randy anticipated being a sailor and spending most of his time on a ship—this did not come to pass. After taking a test which indicated an aptitude for medical skills, Randy was sent to Okinawa for further medical training. Through a process of intra-service transfer, Randy became embedded as a field medic with the Marines in Vietnam. He was now a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman. The FMFs (a/k/a Fearless Mother%$&*@#s) earned their nickname. Doc Rogers saw things no person should ever have to witness, but he persevered and made it back to the US.

After leaving active duty, Randy remained a member of the Navy Reserve until November 1967, when he was honorably discharged. He eventually made his way back to Wichita and was one of the first people to attend The Wichita State University (affectionately referred to as “Hillside High” at the time) on the G.I Bill, ultimately receiving a B.A. in Business Administration. During his military medical training he must have developed an affinity for nurses, because it wasn’t too long after returning to Wichita, that a certain nurse caught his eye. He would go on to marry that nurse (Janice Walsh) in December 1967.

Randy and Jan’s union brought a son (Jerry) in late 1970 and a daughter (Heather) in mid 1972. The reality of having to provide for a family sent Randy down various career paths, including insurance sales, road construction, and sundry other odd jobs. Randy spent the majority of his working life, however, in the aerospace industry at Boeing Wichita. From hands-on metal fabrication, to helping act as translator between the engineers and the shop, Randy spent more than 25 years helping build aircraft.

Though working for a large corporation paid the bills, Randy’s real love was being in nature. Gardening and fishing were a constant in his life. And while he was able, running also put him outside, away from the grind of corporate drudgery. Indeed, he ran his one and only marathon at age 40—in a time that would have qualified him for the Boston Marathon. In this same timeframe (1983), he realized his dream of moving out of the city to the country. He put his heart and soul into his 3-acre homestead, planting numerous trees, native grasses and perpetually battling sand burrs. Even as his health deteriorated, he insisted on trying to maintain his property. There can be little doubt that, at heart, Randy saw himself as a farmer.

Randy was preceded in death by his mother, father, and his brother, Drue. He is survived by his wife, children and his sisters, Becky Hall and Debbie Rogers. He was a dedicated family man and a caring human being--he will be sorely missed.

Memorial services will be held 2:00pm Thursday, November 13, at Smith Family Mortuary Chapel in Derby.

In lieu of flowers, and because both Randy’s mother and brother passed far too early from this horrible disease, please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society.