Richard Wayne Rogers Sr., veteran, loved the water

Richard Wayne Rogers Sr., 76, of Long Neck, stepped into the presence of his Savior Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. Wayne's passing marks the end of an era along the banks of the Indian River near Warwick. Mastering the river in a small wooden rowboat at an early age, he developed an intimate knowledge of its currents and tides, and its response to weather patterns and lunar cycles. This served him well throughout his life on the water, fishing, crabbing, hunting, and water skiing. It seemed appropriate that a full Hunter's Moon kept its vigil over the river he loved, and the broken hearts of his family and a multitude of friends on the night of his homegoing. Respected and well-loved, Wayne would spend hours on the family property at the Screenhouse at Downs Landing, where a steady stream of friends would drop by to visit. Laughter traveled lightly across the water as he regaled them with stories, told in his quiet, easy way with his dry humor and quick wit.  

Wayne was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving abroad from 1966-70 on the USS Moale as a marine mechanic. He kept a promise to himself that if he ever got back to Sussex County, he would never leave again. He was a third-generation custom builder and a self-taught draftsman. He took over the family business from his father and then started his own successful company, Richard Wayne Rogers and Son Construction in 1975.  

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, John T. and Mabel Downs Rogers; a sister, Barbara Ann Rogers; a brother, Johnny Rogers; and his beloved wife of 46 years, Gail E. Baker Rogers. He is survived by his son, Richard Wayne Rogers Jr. and his girlfriend Sara Wingate; his daughter, Wendy Rogers and her son Jaxon; a sister, Linda Rogers Miller and her husband Wayne; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 3, at Watson Funeral Home & Crematorium, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro, with a viewing beginning at 10 a.m. Interment with Military Honors will be held at 2 p.m., at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Wayne’s memory to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE  19963.

Visit Wayne’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his online guestbook at watsonfh.com.