Rodger L. Parson, 73, passed away Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in East Waterford.

He was born Dec. 30, 1947, in Tell Township, Huntingdon County, a son of Charles D. and Ethel A. [Runk] Parson.

A celebration of life event and casual buffet will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at the East Waterford fire hall. If you knew Rodger, were friends, racing or truck buddies, or relatives, you are invited. All are welcome to enjoy the food and visit. This was one of his favorite things — sharing good food and good conversation.

Rodger was blessed with six siblings, Johnny D. [Elizabeth] Parson, Florette [Donald] Deardorff, Ronda Rogers, all of Chambersburg; as well as Violet [Paul] Coffman, C. Eugene Parson, Donald L. Parson, who preceded him in death.

Also preceding him home were his parents and grandparents, John and Ruth Coy Runk, Deems and Elizabeth Campbell Parson Stone, and H. Stone.

He graduated from Southern Huntingdon County Schools in 1965 and married Nancy E. Goshorn on July 16, 1965.

Rodger is survived by Nancy and their three children, Todd A., Rodney L. and Candace J., as well as nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.

He and his wife shared 56 years and four months, including 12 years together 24/7 as over-the-road truckers. He was always first as the love of her life.

Rodger was known as a Bible believer and a very caring person. He was born a farmer; however, in his senior year of high school, he worked for Raymond White, of White Lumber Co., until July 1965, when he married and operated a milking parlor on Ken Oakes Farms. He worked temporally as a mechanic at the former Stanley Co. and Richard Textiles.

From 1967-70, he returned to help his brother, who owned Parson's Feed Mill, Blairs Mills. After his brother's passing, Rodger worked as a mechanic, driver and contractor with Richard Bender, of R&A Bender. When given the opportunity, he went to Letterkenny Army Depot, where he moved up to a journeyman-mechanical, training Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard on recycling and repairing returned military vehicles, many from the Vietnam War.

Rodger also owned Parson's Auto & Truck Repair, of Newburg, and was a sponsor for the prison work release program in Cumberland County. In 1979, he decided to do the one thing he really wanted to try — trucking over road. He started with Gabler Trucking and spent the last 12 years with his wife as co-driver. He remained there until his retirement in 1994 due to diabetes.

He was the owner of Parson's Racing and owned micro sprints, pure stocks, modified stocks and limited sprints. He quietly supported many a beginning racer over a 25-year period.

Early in his life, he was involved in many community-based activities. He was director/ vice president for The Shipp Starlettes Majorette and Drum Corps; secretary and state representative for the Shipp Jaycees; coordinator of a midget basketball program; founder of a midget basketball cheerleader program; a Little League Baseball coach, for which he received many parental awards; youth drug prevention; and he was involved with Amb. for Cos., Cub Scouts, Midget football programs and bowling teams.

With his wife, he formed and owned the Marching Raiders Majorette & Drum Corps, in which as many as 14 youth ages 2 to 23 years old competed as teams and individuals in a three-state area. The corps also participated in parades such as the Virginia State Apple Blossom Festival, for which they were awarded Best of Parade and the Judges Award.

Rodger was raised in the Methodist church and later attended the Shipp. Independent Church.

After 17 years away, he moved back to the Blairs Mills area because he wanted his boys to graduate from S.H.C.S. and its sports program. In 1987, after a house fire, he moved 6 miles down the road and built his current home, where he lived until his death.

Upon returning home, Rodger became a member of Blairs Mills Brethren In Christ Church until it closed. He was currently a member of the E.W. Presbyterian Church, East Waterford Fire Co. and Tuscarora Valley Heritage Days.

He had been licensed in EVOC for police and was certified as an American Red Cross first responder. In the early years of Lack-Tuscarora EMS, he held positions from Auxiliary to the board of directors. His home was always considered a safe house for law enforcement.

The one thing he considered his greatest accomplishment in his community was how they all pull together in time of need. He organized and loaded a 53-foot trailer and pickup full of items for the victims of Hurricane Sandy in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. He could not have done any of this without you helping people you did not even know. That was the last load of freight he would ever load and the most important of his career. A couple of years later, Little Egg Harbor donated equipment to Rodger to share with a fire company of his choice. It was their way of saying thanks to people who helped them in a time of need.

10/4, good buddy. See you on the flip side. Rest easy, we got this.

A Celebration of His Life will be held November 14, 2021, at 1:00 PM, in the East Waterford Firehall, with buffet to follow.