Rodger Elwyn Rourke, 69, Colonel USMC Retired, of Charlotte, NC died Friday, Oct. 27, 2000 at his home. He was born March 26, 1931 in Chicago, IL, a son of the late Elwyn Christopher Rourke and Ruth Estella Jones Rourke Malak. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps as a Private and retired 22 years later as a Colonel. Most of his work was in logistics-arranging equipment, supplies, and services as needed. Subsequently, he used his logistical talents doing similar work in large, non-profit hospital systems, finally retiring as Vice President of Carolinas Healthcare System in 1997. Mr. Rourke also lectured and wrote about hospital material management and techniques. Over the years, he was active in the Boy Scouts as a scout and as a leader, in Little League, PTA, other community organizations, and in church activities. He and Patricia enjoyed travel, reading, photography and golf. Funeral service will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 30, 2000 in the Harry and Bryant Chapel, 500 Providence Rd., Charlotte, NC, with the Reverend Karen Moore, Chaplain of Hospice at Charlotte officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at Harry and Bryant. Interment will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. He is survived by his beloved wife and soulmate, Patricia Hallberg Rourke; proud father and grandfather of son, Michael D. Rourke and daughter-in-law, Barbara Reeder of Skokie, IL; son, Jeffrey A. Rourke of Charlotte, NC; and granddaughters, Shannon Patricia Rourke and Erin Stephanie Rourke of Skokie, IL. He is also survived by a brother and a sister-in-law, Reverend Mr. Walter G. and Catherine Rourke of Charlotte Hall, MD; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Louis and Myrna Beth Hund of Fort Worth, TX and Dr. David and Pamela Western of Overland Park, KS. Memorials may be made to the Hospice at Charlotte, 1420 E. 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28204. Harry and Bryant Company is serving his family.
