Richard “Fuzzy” Rodgers, the symbol of Christmas spirit in Oak Harbor, died at Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville on Dec. 12, 2006.

He was born in Hooversville, Penn., on Jan. 5, 1925 to Amzie and Leona Goldie (Conrad) Rodgers.

Fuzzy was raised in Hooversville, a mining town. He quit school at the age of 17 and enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve during World War II. He was sent to New Guinea in the South Pacific theatre. With his experience in coal mines and in the use of dynamite, he became an expert in eliminating the Japanese soldiers hiding in the caves of New Guinea.

Following the war, Fuzzy returned to the states and settled in Cleveland. He attended college courses in electronics and was soon teaching at the university. He opened a television and radio repair shop in Cleveland. He also met Deloris M. McLaughlin and on Aug. 23, 1953 they were married in Hooversville.

Fuzzy was hired by the Philco Corporation as a Tech Rep and was assigned to Minot, N.D.; El Paso, Texas; San Diego, Calif; and then aboard the Navy aircraft carrier, USS Bon Homme Richard. In 1957, Fuzzy was transferred to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

Fuzzy was a Tech Rep for the A3 aircraft at NAS Whidbey and then began working on the A6. In 1967, he left Philco to begin the NAESU (Naval Aviation Engineering Service Unit) aboard NAS Whidbey. NAESU served as the liaison between the military and civilian units aboard the station. Fuzzy began recruiting a team of talented staff members for the program, which developed into a civil service position.

Fuzzy was instrumental in developing a quality program. He took great pride in his work and his department. He was proud of his work but shunned the limelight. He became a supervisor in 1978. Fuzzy was awarded the Navy Civilian Meritorious Service Award, which is rarely presented. It was a great award for a humble man. Fuzzy retired from civil service in 1993.

Beside his military and civil service careers, Fuzzy took on other roles. He has a passion for baseball. Ty Cobb was his hero, as a baseball player. He loved the game and Fuzzy began working with the North Whidbey Little League program in the late 1950s. For many years, he was manager of the Cubs. He developed many excellent players over the years. He was an inspiration to everyone, by his knowledge of the game and his calm manner. He never got excited or lost his temper. For a time, he also coached the Babe Ruth League. For the last four years of his career he served as a pitching coach. He had students drive to Oak Harbor from out-of-county to take pitching lessons. In 2003, Fuzzy retired after more than 44 years of baseball and helping kids. He was also an avid bowler for many years.

Fuzzy also had another passion and that was Christmas. For many years, Fuzzy and Dee would put up two Christmas trees and decorate inside their home. Fuzzy also began to build decorations for the outside of his house. He would pick up patterns, cut out the designs and then very carefully paint and light each one. He began putting up light strings and the characters of Christmas in his yard on 500 Ave. West, now Sixth Avenue. Each year the project grew. Soon, Fuzzy began setting up his scene in early fall and would light up the yard on Thanksgiving night. He had a countdown sign to Christmas up all year indicating how many days until Christmas. Eventually he began assembling his projects in September to be ready for Christmas. His yard became an annual visit for many of Oak Harbor’s residents. He did his Christmas display for the children of Oak Harbor, not for personal gain.

Fuzzy also had a personal favorite project, developing his backyard into his own sanctuary. Few people were allowed to visit that area. His yard became his escape. It was a peaceful hideaway for Fuzzy.

Fuzzy’s latest hobby was playing Free Cell on his computer. He would play one or two games each day and record the games. On the day he died, his log showed he had played 8,172 games.

Fuzzy is survived by one son, Richard A. “Rick” Rodgers and wife Linda of Tigard, Oregon and their children, Melissa, Chelsea and Tyler Rodgers; and one daughter Starla A. Trivilino of Havelock, N.C.; and his mother Leona Keith of Oak Harbor. He was preceded in death by his wife Deloris “Dee” Rodgers.

Graveside funeral services for Richard “Fuzzy” Rodgers will be held Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor. Memorial services will follow at the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. with Pastor David Lura officiating. A reception for family and friends will follow in Centennial Hall. Memorials may be made in memory of Fuzzy Rodgers to the North Whidbey Little League Association. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.