TOPEKA, Kan. - Rodger Keith Pierpont, 52, of Topeka died Thursday, July 26, 1997, in a car-train accident near Topeka.

He was born Aug. 18, 1944, in Thomasville, Ga., to Roy and Dorothy Barnhart Pierpont. He graduated from Marietta High School in 1962. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served offshore near Vietnam.

He lived in Topeka since 1980. He lived in the Overland Park and Shownee areas near Topeka for a number of years. He attended Johnson County Community College and graduated from Christ Unlimited Bible Institute in Kansas City, Mo., in 1977. In Topeka, he was a driver for United School District 501 for several years and American Plains Tour Co. He worked for Airborne Express of Topeka. He served as English pastor at Korean Baptist Church in Topeka. He was a member of Harmonicateer's Club and attended First Southern Baptist Church in Topeka.

He is survived by his parents of Marietta; his wife, Patty Schesser Pierpont, whom he married Sept. 10, 1977, in Muscotah, Kan.; three sons, Andre, Myles and Jules Pierpont, all at home; one sister, Jayne DeLancey and her husband, Carl, of Marietta; three brothers, Tom Pierpoint and his wife, Mary Kay, of Baltimore; Gale Pierpoint of Macksburg and David Pierpoint and his wife Tonya of Marietta; and several aunts, uncles,nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Zachquill and Lucy Pierpoint and Homer and Clara Barnhart.

Services are at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Southern Baptist in Topeka. Memorial services in Marietta are to be announced at a later date. Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel Funeral Home in Topeka is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pierpont Chidren Education Trust Fund, c/o Commerce Bank and Trust, 31st and Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, Kan., 66611.