Anne Townsley Rodgers
April 20, 1943 ~ February 13, 2025
Born in:
Winchester, Indiana
Resided in:
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Anne Townsley Rodgers, Ph.D, 81, died peacefully on February 13, 2025 in Hendersonville, North Carolina after a series of significant health challenges. Anne was born on April 20, 1943 in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Anne is survived by her niece, Courtney Moyer Woodruff (Nathaniel); brother-in-law, Ron Moyer (Suzie); great niece, Elsie Woodruff; and great nephew Samuel Woodruff from Pelham Massachusetts; as well as great nephews J.R. Zlogar and Cody Zlogar from Belchertown, Massachusetts. She is also survived by cousins Jean Buscherhoff from Parker, Colorado; Chip Taylor (Jan) from Pennsylvania; Steven Taylor from Costa Rica; and Scott Taylor and Beth Taylor Canady (Larry), from North Carolina.
Anne was preceded in death by her parents George Gilling Rodgers and Marjorie Jaqua Rodgers; her sister, Elizabeth Rodgers Moyer; her niece, Kristin Elizabeth Moyer; and her aunt, Elizabeth Taylor.
Anne graduated high school from the Northfield-Mt.Hermon School in Northfield, MA after which she earned her college undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. She continued her studies, earning a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Anne subsequently completed her Doctorate in Public Health at the University of Florida, Gainesville.
During her career, Anne taught medical technology first at Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and then at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia before retiring to Hendersonville, North Carolina to be close to family. She was the editor of a definitive textbook in her field, “Essentials of Diagnostic Biology.” Anne was a devoted member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Fletcher, North Carolina, where she served as a lector, an office volunteer, and a member of the Faith Chapter of the Daughters of the King. She made many strong connections with friends in church and community, her caregivers, and her pastor, Father J. Clarkson. Anne will be missed by her family, especially for her yearly New England treks to Pelham, Cape Anne and Cape Cod, Massachusetts and her delicious trifle desserts. She will be missed as well by her cat, Bonnie (a.k.a. Copurrnicus).
A memorial service will be held at Calvary Episcopal Church on Sunday, March 2 at 2:00 pm. The family will hold a private burial service this spring at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Leicester, MA. Many thanks to Calvary Episcopal Church and Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian for their efforts to honor Anne.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to her beloved Calvary Episcopal Church, PO Box 187, Fletcher, NC 28732.
Services
Memorial Service: March 2, 2025 2:00 pm
Calvary Episcopal Church
Hendersonville Road
Fletcher, NC 28732
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)687-3530
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
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I am so sorry to learn that my wonderful childhood friend, Anne Townsley Rodgers passed away this spring. I last spoke to her a few days following the hurricane that went through her area in North Carolina and learned that she was being sheltered in a hospital since she required some medical care. I was certainly relieved that she was ok and that her apartment had not been destroyed. Although I knew she was experiencing some health problems, I always admired her determination to keep living life to the fullest. I so enjoyed her trip back to Indiana for the annual alumni association banquet a few years ago, during which we spent a lot of time together. She also caught me up on so much Jaqua family genealogy that she enjoyed immensely. In fact, she had called me several months before the hurricane to say that she was shipping me some Winchester Jaqua memorabilia to be donated to the Randolph County Historical Museum here in Winchester, but that never happened, unless she sent it directly to them.
My sincere condolences to the family, and especially Courtney. Anne spoke so much about her and of course, I knew Betsy growing up as well. I continue to live in Winchester just a block away from their family home. Oh, how I wish I could have one more conversation with Anne.