ROGERS, Frank Lear “Buck”, Capt (Ret’d), CD, RCOC
Buck passed away peacefully in his 98th year on 7 April 2017. He leaves his beloved wife of 53 years, Leota Ruth, sons Brian Lear (Gillian) and Robert Alan (Ruth) and grandchildren Emily Carla, Jenna Elizabeth and Tyler Robert.
Buck enrolled in the Canadian Army Active Militia in April 1937. He joined the Canadian Army in August 1939 and served in Halifax until 1944 when he attained the rank of Warrant Officer First Class. He attended the Master Gunner’s Course in Kingston, Ontario and the Artillery Master Gunner’s Course in Halifax in 1944/45. Commissioned in 1951, he was posted to 25 Canadian Ordnance Depot until 1952 when he went to Germany with 27 CIBG Ordnance Company. He returned to AHQ in 1954, attended Subalterns course at Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario in 1955 and was promoted to Captain in September 1956. He served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Petawawa and Germany returning to 27 COD in London, Ontario in June 1959. He was subsequently posted to Canadian Forces Headquarters, Ottawa on October 1967 where he served until his honourable release after 31 years of loyal service in May 1968.
Buck subsequently joined National Defence/ADM (Mat) until his second retirement after 18 years of service with DND on 24 September 1984.
In recognition of his long time military service, Buck was the proud recipient of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal 1939-45, the War Medal 1939-45, the NATO Service Medal and the Canadian Forces Decoration with one clasp. As a civilian with ADM (Mat) he was admitted into the Order of Fellow Logisticians on 15 November 1984 and awarded the ADM (Mat) Anvil Lapel Pin. On his retirement in 1984 he was presented with the Silver Medallion.
Buck was a member of Victory Grand Lodge of Quebec No. 94 Free Masons. As a Master Mason he received on 31 October 2001 the 50 year “Lewis” Jewel. He will be fondly remembered by relatives, friends and RCOC colleagues in Nova Scotia, Montreal, Red Deer and Ottawa.