Rodger Earl Hanlon

Rodger Earl Hanlon, 84, of Ocala, Florida passed away on August 28, 2024 at Hospice House of Ocala, Florida, surrounded by family. Rodger was born in Elyria, Ohio to Earl and Gladys (Zilch) Hanlon on June 22, 1940. He graduated from Amherst High School in 1958. During his high school years, he played on the varsity basketball and football teams, played sousaphone and saxophone in the band and served as the senior class treasurer. Upon graduating from high school, he went on to Bowling Green University and then served his country in the United States Air Force as a staff sergeant and dedicated instructor. While in the Air Force he made lifelong friends, two of whom became his daughter’s Godparents. Later in life, Rodger worked as the Maintenance Supervisor at Dayco Corporation. Rodger was a dedicated husband of 63 years to Betty Jane (BJ), who literally was his everything in life. If BJ wanted it, Rodger was going to make it happen. He was the proud father of two girls, Susan (Sue) Hanlon, attorney of Tampa, Florida, and Sandra (Sandi) Knight, nurse, Houston, Texas, two grandchildren, Lauren (Chicago) and Ryan (Houston) Knight. Known to be a friend to anyone in need, Rodger’s stature, was only matched by the size of his heart. Rodger loved to fly small aircraft with his friend Bob, loved feeding people well beyond them being full (his specialty was breakfast and cookouts with friends and family). In his later years he enjoyed motorcycle riding with friends on the back roads of Ocala. There was never a time that Rodger would hire someone to fix something without first trying several times to do it himself. A midwestern boy at heart, he was happiest when he was riding on a tractor at his brother’s Christmas tree farm, which took him back to his childhood days on the farm in Ohio. A fun piece of family lore is that Rodger might have been the only person who actually enjoyed frequenting landfills, trapping the closest unsuspecting bystander to be his ride along. Rodger is survived by his wife, Betty Jane Hanlon of Ocala, daughters Sue Hanlon and Sandi (Hanlon) Knight, grandchildren Lauren and Ryan (Knight), brother Jack Bruce, 8 nephews and 4 nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents, Gladys and Earl Hanlon and his brother Neil Bruce. In lieu of flowers of and in light of Rodger’s lifelong commitment to public service and pride in his country we ask that donations be made to Toys for Tots or Wounded Warrior Project in his memory.

Rodger Earl Hanlon

June 22, 1940 - August 28, 2024