HELEN R. RODGERS An Army wife, associate in the silver buyer's office at Woodward and Lothrop, Red Cross aide, and White House volunteer, died April 4, 2015 at Goodwin House in Alexandria, VA. She was a longtime resident of Alexandria and Arlington and maintained a second home in Lilly, Pennsylvania. Born Helen Bosko in Gallitzin, PA, to Mary Sabados and Paul Bosko, she married the late Col. Thomas R. Rodgers during World War II and traveled with him to numerous overseas and stateside posts throughout his Army career. She lived in Frankfurt, Germany, Orleans, France, Yokohama, Japan and Korat, Thailand. In her retirement, she continued to travel extensively overseas. She attended college in California, and pursued her interest in Asian culture graduating from the Benedictine School of Chinese Cooking in Tokyo and the Kofu School of Ikebana Floral Design, also in Tokyo. She and her husband settled in Northern Virginia in 1966, where they had also living during his Army career. She began her career at Woodward and Lothrop's Alexandria store, moving to the silver buyer's office at Woodie's flagship F. Street store downtown, where she retired after 20 years. She was a long-time volunteer for the Red Cross overseas. For many years she awarded scholarships to aspiring nurses and helped fund training for first responders in her hometown. She was a volunteer in the White House Correspondence Office during the administrations of President Ronald Reagan and George W. H. Bush. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas R. Rodgers and her four brothers. She is survived by her two daughters, Cathy Rodgers and Tricia Rodgers, both of Alexandria, VA. A memorial service will be held at Goodwin House Alexandria on Sunday, April 26, at 2:30 p.m. in the chapel. Valet parking will be available. Services at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date.

Published in The Washington Post on Apr. 18, 2015