Elbert Blaine Rogers 8/26/1925 - 9/10/2011 Elbert Blaine Rogers entered into eternal life on September 10, 2011. Born in Belington, WV, the youngest of six sons born to Opha and Rosie Wheeler Rogers. By age four, he lost both his parents. He was raised in West Virginia by a wonderful foster family, Pearl and Thomas F. Fitzwater and Pearl's sister, Mary Zinn. Elbert graduated from Belington High School in 1943. He served in WWII as a sergeant in the US Army's 279th Engineer Combat Battalion from 1943 to 1946 and served in Germany and France as a bridge builder and mine sweeper. Elbert and Chelsea married in Grafton, PA in 1948. They lived in Jeanette, PA where Elbert began his career in the tire industry as a service manager. In 1950 he transferred to Linden, NJ as a national service manager. In 1956 Elbert and Chelsea moved to Mansfield, OH where their children, Tom and Beth Ann were born. In 1968 Elbert and family moved to Tucson where he managed the new Burggraf West Tire Store through Goodyear. After retirement in 1989 he worked part time with Jack Furrier. Elbert served on the church board in New Jersey and Ohio where he also coached award winning basketball teams in church league, and served as MYF counselor. He was always an avid sports fan. After moving to Tucson, he and his family became loyal Wildcat fans where they held season basketball and football tickets. Elbert is preceded in death by his infant son, Jeffrey Blaine; parents, foster parents, aunt, five older brothers and a niece. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Chelsea; son, Thomas Lee (Magdalena) and daughter, Beth Ann and grandchildren, Brandon Lee and Chelsea K. Rogers. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel at Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway Blvd. The family wishes to thank Anthony Diaz and staff at Rosa's Chante for five years of devoted care for Elbert. Also, thank you to Hospice Family Care. Donations in Elbert's memory may be sent to UMC Research Center, Department of Neurology, 1501 N. Campbell Ave, PO Box 245023, Tucson, AZ 85724-5023. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOME, Dodge Chapel.