Captain W. Roger Higgins William Roger Higgins, 90, of Brockton, died peacefully on August 05, 2011 at the V.A. Hospital in West Roxbury, MA. Known to everyone as "Roger," he was born in Brockton on March 12, 1921 and was a life-long resident. He was the loving husband of the late Dorothea "Dottie" Higgins to whom he was happily married for 57 years before her death in 2007. Roger attended Brockton High School before leaving to drive truck for the old Quinn Freight line. At 19, Roger traveled to Washington, D.C. where he worked construction, helping to build the East Wing of the White House. At 21, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, landing at Omaha Beach, France on D-Day +6. He proudly served as a Staff Sergeant in General Patton's 3rd Army, having fought at the famed Battle of the Bulge in December/January 1944-45. He also participated in the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany and much of Europe. Following his duty in the Army occupation of Germany after their surrender, he returned to Brockton where he worked for Tibbitt's Construction Company. There he met the love of his life, "Dottie" Eidler. As a 29-year old newlywed in 1950, Roger was called back at the outbreak of war in Korea. He fought in the difficult early battles - most notably at the "Pusan Perimeter" and later at "The Gauntlet." Upon his return home, he became a patrolman on the Brockton Police Department. He was a police officer for 33 years, rising to the rank of Captain. Serving in numerous administrative capacities, he was most happy as Chief of Detectives in charge of the detective bureau for many years. Roger served as Police Prosecutor and took great pleasure in teaching law enforcement courses at Stonehill College and at the Massachusetts Police Academy. He retired from the force in 1984. Roger was happiest vacationing at his summer cottage in Milton, New Hampshire. There he enjoyed many years of good times and cheer with his beloved wife Dottie, his four children, four grandchildren and many, many friends. He also enjoyed traveling, carpentry, ballroom dancing, boating, discussing politics and playing horseshoes at which he excelled. Although he wouldn't admit it, he was an accomplished carpenter, having built the additions to his two homes and assisting his children with many home-improvement projects. Upon their retirement, he and Dottie traveled extensively across the country in their motor home, visiting 49 out of 50 states. They also toured much of Western Europe and cruised the Caribbean. He was a gifted storyteller and his quick wit and ability to recall jokes were legendary. Roger is survived by two sisters, Sr. Rosemarie Higgins, FMM and Dorothy Lynch, both of East Providence, RI; a daughter, Sheila Sullivan and her two children; Daniel and Kate (Sullivan) Pollock and her husband Jamie Pollock and great-grandchild Owen, all of Peabody, MA; son Timothy Higgins, his wife Denise and their two children Patrick and Brett of Easton; and Thomas Higgins and his wife Karen of Groveland, MA. He was the father of the late Stephen Higgins. Funeral Information Relatives and friends are invited to attend his wake in the Russell Pica Funeral Home, 165 Belmont St., (RT123) Brockton on Monday, August 8th from 4:00 - 8:00 with a family prayer service eulogy beginning at 7:30 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday in Saint Mary's Catholic Church, 330 Pratt Street, Mansfield at 10:00AM. Interment will follow with full military honors at Pine Hill Cemetery, West Bridgewater.