C. Rogers Westlake, 86, passed away in his sleep early Monday, July 2, 2012, at Wharton nursing home in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee after a period of declining health.
Westlake was born Feb. 16, 1926 in Sycamore, Ill., to Mark H. and Carol R. Westlake. Raised in Sycamore, he moved to Leesburg, Fla. in 1941 where he graduated from high school.
Westlake went on to earn a degree in ceramic engineering in 1948 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and on Aug. 16, 1948, was united in marriage to Grace Cecilia Jorgensen at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Ia. He and Grace moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., where he earned his masters degree in ceramic engineering in 1951 from UNC State.
Westlake returned to Illinois where, after working the family farm in Sycamore for a few years, he worked as a ceramic engineer in Antioch. He moved to Wooster in 1956, where he worked as a ceramic engineer and he and Grace raised five children.
Westlake joined The American Ceramic Society in 1954.
The Westlakes retired to Fairfield Glade, Tenn., in 1991. He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Wooster and Fairfield Glade Community Church in Tennessee, and was active in the choir and church in both communities.
Westlake was preceded in death by his wife, Grace who passed away in 2001. He is survived by five children; Mark Westlake, Betsy Westlake, Carol Westlake, Ross Westlake and Grant Westlake; and three grandchildren, Garret Westlake, Carolyn Westlake and Skyler Westlake.
He enjoyed aviation, computers, photography and singing in the church choir. He particularly enjoyed traveling and the warmth of family and friends. His sense of humor, love and compassion will be deeply missed by family and friends alike.
The family offers that in lieu of flowers donations can be made to Uplands Retirement Village, 86A Church Drive, Crossville, TN 38571, 931-277-3518