On January 10th, 2024, at the age of 82, Rodger Allen Hartley passed away due to metastatic melanoma cancer.  He was born January 22, 1941, in Lewistown, PA, to Florence Hartley and the late Roy Hartley.

Rodger is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Martha A. Hartley, his two children, Kelly and David, grandchildren Jovita, Alexander & Tristan and great-granddaughter Junibelle, as well as his mother Florence Hartley, currently 100 years old, his sister Donna Evans and brother Kerry Hartley.

Rodger was taking technical courses in electronics in Kansas City at a time when transistors had just been invented. There he met the beautiful Ms. Martha Alden who was finishing her registered nurse training.  They married on September 28, 1963, and relocated to Washington State to be closer to Martha's family.  Rodger worked for The Boeing Company for a time, but his primary career was with the Puget Sound Organ Co., specializing in the repair of electronic organs for both churches and private individuals. This remained his career until his retirement.

Throughout his life, he had a deep fascination with the inner workings of mechanical and electronic devices. It comes as no surprise that he would often disassemble, analyze, and restore various objects, including telephones and radios from the early 1900s. However, his true passion lay in the restoration of classic cars, particularly those prior to 1932 Dodge Brothers automobiles. Renowned worldwide as "Rodger the Dodger," he was considered an invaluable source of knowledge about these early Dodges.  He played a significant role in restoring numerous classic cars, including his own rare 1915 Dodge Brothers Roadster with a Rex Winter Top, a 1922 Dodge Brothers four door sedan, his 1928 Dodge Brothers Standard Six Cabriolet, as well as BMW Isettas and an early electric car known as the Red Bug.

When faced with the challenge of finding missing parts for his restorations, Rodger would ingeniously recreate them to match the original specifications. His dedication to this hobby was unwavering, and he also served as an officer of the Dodge Brothers Club for many years. His extensive knowledge of the Dodge Brothers' history and his willingness to share it with others will be greatly missed by all who appreciate these classic cars.

Donations to the Dodge Brothers Club on his behalf would certainly bring him joy.  The Dodge Brothers Club is a  501(c)(3) organization, therefore donations are also tax deductible.  Dodge Brothers Club ℅ Howard Bergh, Treasurer, 6930 East Los Santos Drive, Long Beach, CA 90815.

Please add to this memorial page with your favorite memories about Rodger Hartley and thank you very much for visiting.