Obituary of Edwin Berky Rodgers

Edwin Berky Rodgers, beloved husband, father, award winning architect, author, teacher, mentor, and friend was called home to be with his Lord June 4, 2023, at his home in Hilton Head Island, SC while surrounded by his family.

Ed was born in Canfield, OH in 1944 and is survived by his sister Kip Dixon (Donald), wife Dee, and three children, Shannon Rodgers (previous marriage), Shayne Mader (Jason), Loren Rodgers (Betsy), and three grandchildren, Ethan, Brooke, and Lydia Rodgers. Ed was blessed to celebrate his 79^th birthday in March.

Ed was a 1966 graduate of Miami University School of Architecture (Ohio). In 1972, he received a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois. Ed was an artist at his core. He and Dee were married in 1974 and moved their family of four to Hilton Head Island in 1984. Ed had a successful career as an architect, and his creativity and vision were driving forces in creating the Hilton Head aesthetic that so many people love about the Island.  He designed many of the noteworthy residential and commercial structures that exemplify the unique and beloved charm of the island.

Ed came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior as an adult through his sister. He had the opportunity to serve on numerous mission trips throughout Africa and Europe. He was a university guest lecturer and spoke at many conferences and retreats. He led Bible studies for incarcerated men in correctional institutions and for those getting back on their feet. God used Ed’s boundless heart for the downtrodden to extend His grace and mercy to the most disadvantaged and neglected members of our community, as he offered tangible support, spiritual mentorship, and caring friendship that changed dozens of lives, whenever there was an opportunity to share his testimony, he did. He even preached in Spanish! In 2008, he became a volunteer with Ambassadors for Christ, training pastors in third world countries.

Ed’s written ministry was designed to “help readers progress from surviving to thriving in the midst of all the life-changing challenges” in relation to biblical prophecy. He would “weave biblical prophecy, world events, and politics together, showing how they are all connected.” Ed is the author of 12 books and hundreds of articles and blog posts. You can read more about his books and ministry at his website.

Many people are familiar with his architecture, writing skills, and of course the puns! Some may not know he was a patent holding inventor and an accomplished musician. Ed wrote several commercial jingles and many copyrighted songs. He was gifted to play the piano, guitar, mandolin, melodica, and saxophone.

Ed’s sense of humor endured until the very end. He served well, gave well, and loved well. If you had the privilege to know Ed, you were seen, known, and loved. His legacy will live on in all of us.  

A celebration of Ed’s life will be held at Christian Renewal Church on Hilton Head Island at 10:00 am on June 10, 2023. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the CRC Benevolence Fund or Ambassadors for Christ, Slovakia.

Ed always finished his blog posts with an “On the Lighter Side” joke because “a good laugh is great medicine for whatever ails us.” So, in his honor, “‘’Tis better to have loved a short than never to have loved a tall.”