Kenneth Bernard Rogers, Sr., 96 years of age, affectionately known as KB or Kenny, passed away peacefully in Fillmore on April 2, 2025. Joy Brockus Rogers, his beloved wife of 58 years, preceded him in death in 2009.
A life long resident of Fillmore, he was born November 15, 1928, to Chester and Velna Rogers. Just months before his birth, his parents lost his 4 young brothers and sisters and his maternal grandmother in the flood waters of the collapse of the St Francis Dam on March 12, 1928. As one might expect, Kenny was a deeply cherished child, as were his sister Barbara, born in 1930, and his brother Charles, born in 1932.
KB Rogers was a rancher of cattle, a farmer of Valencia oranges, and the owner of several businesses in Fillmore. He owned and operated the Chevron Service Station on Highway 126. For many years he was the owner and proprietor of the Fillmore Amusement Parlor, also known as the Pool Hall. It was a place for all ages to have a cherry coke, a barbecue beef sandwich, and a game of pinball, snooker, or pool. A number of young men in Fillmore started their first job working part time at the Pool Hall. Kenny was a generous person, encouraging his employees to further their education. There is a plaque in his office from his employees that reads, “Just a small way to say thanks for all your help throughout the years. You gave us the chance to work for you. You helped most of us through school. And you’ve continued to be a friend to all of us. We thank you. The Pool Hall Crew of the Late 60’s and Early 70’s”.
For many years Kenny and Joy, with partners, ran cattle on a variety of ranch lands in the mountains surrounding Fillmore. The memories of the camaraderie of the cattle round ups are events that family and friends still treasure. Kenny was a loyal supporter of the beef industry and purchased many animals raised by young people in Future Farmers of America and 4-H clubs at the Ventura County Fair. He was a member of the Ventura County Cattlemen’s Association and in 2000 KB was chosen The Ventura County Cattleman of the Year.
Valencia oranges have been grown for almost 100 years and are still being grown by the Rogers family on their Piru ranch. After the passing of his mother in 1975, Kenny took over the running of the ranch. He remained actively involved in the labor and the operation of the ranch well into his mid 80’s. He was a long-time member of the Fillmore Piru Citrus Association and was elected a number of times to the Board of Directors.
Graduating from Fillmore High in 1946, Kenny attended Ventura College. In high school he was a student leader as ASB President of the Student Council. He was an outstanding athlete. As a senior, both his basketball and football teams were League champions. As a football tight end, he was chosen all County Honor Team. In 2010, KB was inducted into the Fillmore High School Sports Hall of Fame in recognition for his contribution to the 1946 League Champion FHS Football Team.
As an active member of his community, Kenny was both a member and past president of the Piru Sportsmen’s Club, Piru Petroleum Club, and Fillmore Club. For his long service with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, also known as the Jaycees, he was awarded a Plaque of Distinction. The Jaycees provided a number of community service activities for young people to develop leadership skills and create positive change in their communities.
The City of Fillmore honored KB for his 25 years of service as a volunteer fireman, captain, and assistant fire chief
During the 1960’s and 1970’s both Kenny and Joy were active members of the Fillmore High Booster Club which raised funds to support student athletes and athletic programs. In 1972, the students of Fillmore High School honored KB Rogers by choosing him as the Homecoming Grand Marshall of the homecoming football game and downtown parade.
Growing up in Fillmore, Kenny learned to love catching fish in the Sespe River and backpacking and hunting in the Sespe mountains. It was a passion that lasted a lifetime with hunting and fishing trips to Alaska, Colorado, Utah, many parts of California, and Baja California. In his 80’s, he was still hiking the Rocky Mountains hunting elk and deer. The family remembers many fine meals of venison, dorado (mahi mahi), trout, and salmon
Rincon Beach was the favorite vacation spot for the Rogers family. Family and friends were always invited and welcomed. There was plenty of fun in the sun and surf, ball games in the sand, board and card games, and it was Always Five O’clock Somewhere. KB was an enthusiastic Scrabble player, probably because he was usually the winner. Many years of voracious reading and crossword puzzles had sharpened his word play skills.
Raising Cymbidium orchids was a source of great pride and satisfaction for Kenny’s wife Joy. Upon Joy’s passing, Kenny took over the tending of the orchids and they thrived. The orchids have been in the family for 3 generations. Dividing and repotting of the orchids continues so that family and friends can share the joy of the orchids.
Kenneth Rogers will be deeply missed by his four children, Rebecca Rogers Eller (Tom), Kenneth Rogers, Jr. (Martha), Phillip Rogers, Samuel Hansen (Debbie); five grandchildren, Marie Haase (Brian), Amy Rogers, Kelly Rogers, Katie De Anda (Mitch), Christy Christodoulides; 5 great grandchildren; and many close cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The Rogers family wishes to extend a special thanks to Dr. Micah Dickey, to the Fillmore Country Club, and to Los Robles Hospice for their professional and compassionate care.
Graveside Services are scheduled for Wednesday, May 7 at 11am at Bardsdale Cemetery. Reception to follow at 1pm at Britt Park, Piru, CA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Kenny’s name to the Fillmore High Alumni Scholarship Fund, 559 Sespe Avenue, Fillmore, CA 93015.