City of Fulton mourns loss of World War II veteran “Bishop Bill”
The Fulton community is mourning the loss of 92-year-old William Rogers. The World War II veteran was killed in a car crash on Highway 54 in Fulton on Memorial Day.
On Tuesday, ABC 17 News talked with friends of Rogers and members of the community who said he was known around town as “Preacher Rogers” and “Bishop Bill.”
They also said he was well known for his clothing style while walking around town.
The Fulton Church of God parking lot, where locals said you could always find Rogers’ car, now has a memorial in front of it.
“He’s just been around this community since we was little bitty kids,” said Larry Underwood, a friend of Rogers.
Underwood said when he wasn’t preaching or volunteering, Rogers really enjoyed the outdoors.
“He loved to rabbit hunt,” he said. “And he loved to talk about any kind of hunting.”
Underwood said his heart is heavy after losing such an amazing friend.
“He was 92 years old,” he said through tears. “And we just don’t have many World War II veterans left. He was just someone that you expected to see all the time because he walked so much and he wore a little derby hat, so you knew when you seen him. He was always dressed up when he was walking.”
Rogers also visited several nursing home residents in his spare time.
“He started coming up here to visit a recently deceased resident of ours that was also a World War II veteran,” said Regina Johnson, Activities Director for the Fulton Nursing and Rehab Center. “And he would come up there and visit him. And after he passed away, he continued to come up there and visit with the other residents. He would stop in and bring them candy.”
Johnson said his face will be missed at the center.
“Fulton lost a good guy,” she said. “Yep, they lost a good guy. He was a very good gentleman and he would always even talk to the staff.”
“He was just a good friend,” Underwood said.
Several other members in the community said Preacher Rogers would often show up when a person passed away just to comfort the family.
