Charles Roger Arbogast, of Stanardsville, Va., formerly of Columbia, died Aug. 30, 2007, of cancer, at his residence. He was 61.

Born March 17, 1946, in Huntington, W.Va., to Estol Arbogast and Carrie Arbogast Burslem, he graduated from St. Albans High School in St. Albans, W.Va., in 1964.

He married Rose Evans in 1966 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During his eight years of service, he was based in Great Lakes, Ill., Hawaii, Portsmouth, Va., and Fort Meade, working in communications and electronics. In 1971, he served as a communications technician while aboard the U.S.S Swordfish. He eventually became a first-class electronics technician. He was discharged in 1975.

In the late 1970s, he graduated from the University of Maryland with Bachelor of Science degree in technical management.

He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1984 with a master's degree in management.

Mr. Arbogast began employment with the National Security Agency in 1975 at Fort Meade, where he worked in telecommunications for 27 years.

He also worked for the Scitor Corp. in Annapolis Junction in management communications for five years, prior to retiring in 2005.

Mr. Arbogast was a Columbia resident for 28 years before relocating to Stanardsville in 2005.

According to his family members, he enjoyed woodworking, beekeeping, cooking and working on his Stanardsville farm. In addition, he was a bluegrass musician, who, for five years, built guitars in his garage.

He is remembered by his wife, Rose Arbogast, as a wonderful person who had lots of friends and music in his life.

In addition to his wife of 41 years, Rose Arbogast, he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Jenny and Louis Roberto, of Lisbon, Ohio; a son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Adriana Arbogast, of Montrose, Colo.; his mother, Carrie Burslem, of Huntington; a brother, Dr. Allen Arbogast, of Huntington; and two grandchildren, Dodge Arbogast, of Montrose, and Marina Arbogast, of Montrose.

Funeral services were held Sept. 4, 2007, at Preddy Funeral Home Chapel in Madison, Va. The Rev. Bernard K. Jones presided.

Interment followed at Culpeper National Cemetery in Culpeper, Va.

Memorial donations may be made to: American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.