Alden Rogers

Mr. Alden L. “Al” Rogers, U. S. Navy, CDR, Ret.  87, of Mount Airy , died on Sunday, April 3, at home.  He was the husband of Mary A. Rogers, his wife of 48 years.

Born on November 5, 1923 , in Glendale , CA , he was the son of Merle and Aleta Rogers.  Al was an Engineering graduate from the University of Maryland .  He served in the Navy as a fighter pilot in WWII and retired from the Naval Reserves with the rank of Commander.  He has several inventions patented in his name and retired from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.  Al hiked the entire Appalachian Trail at the age of 70 under the trail-name “Old Smoothie.”

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Kevin Bruce Rogers, and his two daughters, Mary Josephine York and Elizabeth Anne Moravansky.  He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and two sisters.  In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, a sister, and his daughter Starr Jean Kimbrough.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 6, from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 8 E. Ridgeville Blvd , Mount Airy , MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 7, 11:00 am , at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, 9201 Church Street , Libertytown , MD. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, 118 Park Street, S.E. Vienna , VA 22180 .