Obituaries

David Kent RogersArmy Officer

David Kent Rogers, 75, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and decorated Vietnam War veteran, died of leukemia July 5 at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. He was an Alexandria resident.

After his retirement in 1978, Col. Rogers remained active in his community. He helped establish the Neighborhood Watch program in Hollin Hills, coached Alexandria youth soccer, supported his sons' football efforts and worked with the junior golf program at the Fort Belvoir course. He also produced a meticulously researched family genealogy.

Col. Rogers was born in New York and moved with his family at age 7 to a dairy farm in Dutchess County, N.Y.

As a youngster, he enjoyed hunting when he was not working in the fields or tending livestock. He also was active with the Future Farmers of America and played basketball, baseball and football for Pine Plains Central High School.

He was a member of the ROTC at Cornell University and joined the Army in 1955, shortly after receiving his bachelor's degree in agriculture. His military decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

His citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross, received for his actions during an enemy attack on a U.S. Special Forces camp in Vietnam, noted that he "flew his observation aircraft at extremely low level while exposing himself to repeated hostile enemy fire as he adjusted friendly artillery fire on hostile emplacements. . . ."

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Michelle Rogers of Alexandria; two sons, Marine Corps Col. Philippe D. Rogers of Los Angeles and Craig M. Rogers of Wilmington, N.C.; a brother; a sister; and three grandchildren.

-- Joe Holley

Frances Ambrose SchneiderEducator

Frances Ambrose Schneider, 71, who spent 32 years as a teacher and vice principal at St. Louis School in Alexandria, died June 27 at her home in Alexandria. She had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Mrs. Schneider moved to Alexandria in 1974 and was a first- and fourth-grade teacher and a resource specialist at St. Louis, a Catholic elementary and middle school. She later served as vice principal until her retirement in 2006.