Tom was born on December 31, 1940 in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Pete and Loretta Rogers. Pete was a barber on the Army base and Loretta was a nurse. They were still living in Honolulu when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, and moved to Northern California in 1942. Tom’s family later settled in Torrance, California and when he was a sophomore at Serra High School his brother Jerry was born.

Tom met Yolanda when they were seniors in high school, and they started dating while they both attended El Camino Junior College. Tom then attended Cal State LA, graduating with his degree in Mechanical Engineering, later earning his Master’s from USC. He and Yolanda were married on June 13, 1964, and they had four children - Christina, Laura, Thomas and Matthew.

Tom was a devoted husband and loving father. He was patient, kind, friendly and was quick to smile. He and Yolanda have many longstanding friendships and enjoyed dinner club, camping, and traveling to Kauai. Tom never hired anyone to do a job he could do himself. Skills he mastered include masonry, carpentry, plumbing, painting, landscape designing, wallpaper hanging, tile installing, pool maintenance and repair, window installing as well as being a mechanic and electrician. He truly could do it all - and did lots of home improvements at their two different homes in Simi Valley.

Tom worked for 42 years at an aerospace company and played bridge at lunch with his coworkers every day. He retired in 2010, and around that same time started showing signs of Parkinson’s. It progressed slowly and he was able to do most of what he loved for several years. The last few years of Tom’s life were filled with both joy and challenge. His health kept him from living independently, but Yolanda, the board and care staff, and eventually hospice nurses, cared for him well. God provided. Tom passed away peacefully early in the morning on Sunday, July 19. We take comfort that he is now in the arms of his heavenly Father, free from earthly suffering.

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9