Rodman I. Gregg, originally from Wilmington, Delaware, passed away on May 19, 2024 in Glen Mills, PA at the age of 102 years after a short illness. He was married to his wife Bette Gregg for 48 years.
Born and raised in Cranston heights near Prices Corner, a place he loved, he was the son of Ethel Sowden Gregg and Benjamin W. Gregg. Rodman is survived by three children, Rodman W. Gregg, Cheryl Simpkins of Chewelah, WA, and David Gregg of Bear, DE as well as sister, Patricia Clark, and grandchildren Dylan, Nathan, and Katie Simpkins.
Born in 1921, Rodman lived a long life, graduating from Conrad High School in the class of 1938. He served in the military, joining the Army in 1940 and initially serving in the 198th Coast Artillery. At the outbreak of war on Dec. 7, 1941, he was stationed at Camp Upton, New York, where that cold winter his unit slept outside in tents before getting orders to proceed by ship to the South Pacific in early 1942. He was stationed on the island of Bora Bora, then known as Bobcat island. There he helped build gun emplacements high up in the mountains overlooking the possible approaching enemy ships.
Rodman was recommended for pilot training school, and transferred stateside and underwent 20 weeks of training as an AFF Cadet. When the Army decided they no longer needed pilots, he returned to the infantry as a sergeant. Landing in the south of France in 1944 with the 7th Army, his unit fought its way into Germany, was in the battle of Metz, liberated Landsburg concentration camp, and ended up the war in Innsbruck, Austria.
Returning stateside in September 1945, always working, he did various odd jobs until entering the University of Delaware to study civil engineering. In 1948, he married his high school girlfriend, Elizabeth Walker, and they shared 48 happy years of marriage.
After graduation from UD, Rodman worked for the Scott Paper company before joining Hercules Powder Co. in 1955, as a civil engineer, where he worked for 32 years before retiring.
In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, sailing his sailboat, and generally keeping active. Always a generous person, Rod “gave much more than he got.” Over the years, he enjoyed his many friends and family. After his wife passed away in 1994, he moved to Maris Grove in Glen Mills, PA, where he ended his days.
A viewing will be held at the McCrery & Harra Funeral Home at 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803 on Tuesday, May 28th from 5 until 7 pm. A funeral service with military honors will be held the following day, Wednesday, May 29th, at 11 am Red Clay Presbyterian Church, 500 McKennans Church Road, Wilmington, DE 19808. Interment will be private.
