Joseph Howard Rodgers Sr.
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Joseph Howard Rodgers Sr., 103, of McMurray, died Monday, January 29, 2018, in McMurray Hills Manor.
He was born January 11, 1915, in Pittsburgh, a son of the late William and Mary Lilly Shaw Rodgers.
He was a graduate of Duquesne High School in 1933. He went on to attain his bachelor of science at University of Pittsburgh in 1938 with high honors and then Western Theological Seminary, now Pittsburgh Seminary, to earn his master of divinity in 1941 and his master’s in church history in 1944.
He started working at Duquesne Trust Co. while attending University of Pittsburgh, then started his ministerial career as assistant pastor at Mulberry Presbyterian Church in Wilkinsburg. He became pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in McDonald in 1944 and went on to be pastor of Center Presbyterian Church from 1951 to 1980. He was then assistant to the pastors of Church of the Covenant in Washington until 1986. He never really gave up being a pastor, as he still visited those in need through last year.
Other activities he was involved in included being moderator of both the Pittsburgh and the Washington Presbytery, stated clerk and interim executive presbyter of Washington Presbytery, member and president of the board of Western Center, served on United Way Board of Washington County, life member of Duquesne Lodge 731 Free and Accepted Masons, Beta Gamma Sigma, University of Pittsburgh honorary business fraternity and was made a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International in 1992.
In recent years, he enjoyed attending “The Seekers” Sunday school class of Center Presbyterian Church and meeting friends at Eat’n Park for breakfast.
Surviving are two sons, Joseph H. (Edith) Rodgers Jr. of North Kingsville, Ohio, and John A. (Gail) Rodgers of McMurray; grandchildren Lisa Hernandez of Oconto Falls, Wis., William (Jill) Rodgers of Las Vegas, Nev., and Jonathan Rodgers of Lawrence; grandchild Heather Rodgers of Plum Borough; great-grandchildren Steven (Dominique), Christopher, Michael and TJ Hernandez; and great-grandchildren Cody and Hailie Rodgers.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jessie Anna Rodgers in 2010; sister Dorothy Harmon; and half brothers and sister Herbert, William and Jane.
Friends will be received from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 3, in Center Presbyterian Church followed by a memorial service, with the Rev. Craig A. Kephart and Rev. Donald C. Austin officiating.
An inurnment at a later date will be held in Center Church Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to Center Presbyterian Church, 255 Center Church Road, McMurray, PA 15317.