Rogers Bryant

Rogers Bryant, 93, went home to be with his Lord, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Rogers was born and raised in Clairton, Pennsylvania. After high school and a brief stint working on steel mill turbines, he furthered his engineering interest by enlisting in the Navy’s Technical Training school. This was the only branch of the military that would allow a Black man to serve in that capacity. While in the Korean War he served as a Staff Sergeant leading the ships’ electronic tech and radar team and was entrusted with servicing the captain’s radar. After the Navy, he enrolled in Howard University, obtained his Electrical Engineering Degree and took master’s classes from the University of PA. He was hired by RCA and moved from Washington, DC to Camden, NJ where he worked on their radar systems, the first color TVs and picture tubes. He was eventually hired by IBM FSD in Owego, NY and settled with his family in Vestal. His career at IBM, over 25+ years, lead him to work on critical projects including navigational system designs for the Space Shuttle, the Osprey helicopter and F15 aircrafts. Upon his retirement in 1991 and looking for a side gig, he learned to upholster furniture and found himself busier than ever. Rogers, a faithful and long-time member of Twin Orchards Baptist Church, now Grace Point, joined in the late 60’s where he was baptized. He taught several Sunday school classes, from high school boys to adults, sang in the choir, served as a Trustee and a Deacon , eventually becoming the head of the Deacon Board, serving for several years. He also served on the building committee and the committee tasked to hire a new pastor (Kyle Kaurin) when Pastor Blasko retired. Outside of church, he established a Bible Study pulling several couples and friends together meeting monthly to study the scripture. Retirement allowed him to spend winters in Florida. There, he blended into a community near Ocala where he attended church and taught Sunday School classes. Rogers was a family man at heart. He loved camping and fishing and traveled all over the country each year with his family and later with grandchildren, exploring new places and historical sites inspiring the same interest in all of his kids today. He was predeceased by his parents, Allen Bryant and Ida Bryant; his siblings, Allen Thomas, James Harris, James Edward, Irene, Murther, Vera, William, Odell, Bynum and Leon and his wife of 52 years, Annie Ruth Bryant in 2007. He is survived by his five children, Karen M. Bryant, Roderick L. Bryant and wife, Sharon, Deirdre D. Bryant and husband Rick, Gerald D. Bryant and wife, Lorettha, Cory L. Bryant and wife, Devenie; 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, April 5, at 11 a.m. at the Grace Point, 3701 Vestal Rd., Vestal with Pastor Tim Dodd officiating. Friends will be received by the family at 10 a.m. until the service begins. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Rogers Bryant may be made to Grace Point.