Obituary for Richard Austin Rollyson
Richard Austin Rollyson, 89, passed away peacefully in his home in Fairlawn with his family by his side on Friday, January 28, 2022. He was born in Gassaway, W. Va. to the late Madalene and John Austin Rollyson. After he graduated from high school, he spent 4 years in the U. S. Air Force. He graduated from West Virginia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He built his home in Fairlawn, and he worked until retirement at the Radford Army Ammunitions Plant. He also loved his farm, raising cattle and gardening, with the help of all his children. Later, he was helped by his sidekick grandson, Austin, who spent all his spare time assisting PopPop with everything. Besides being a workaholic on the farm he had a passion for motorcycle riding with his friends throughout these beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. He will be greatly missed by his many friends and family.
Survivors include his 5 children and their spouses, John Mark and Sissy Rollyson, Sandra Ann and Robert Langley, Terri Lynn and Mack Davis, Thomas Scott Rollyson, and Roberta Dawn Rollyson; grandchildren, Brandy Young, Laura Rollyson, Rachael Walker, Kathlyne Rollyson, Cacey Dalton, Kailey Burr, Holly Spangler, Hailey Williams, and Austin Rollyson; 12 great grandchildren; his former wife and the mother of his children, Barbara Thomas Rollyson; and many other relatives and friends.
Special thanks to his wonderful caregivers who gave him the best of care for the last several years, Cristy Keener, Sherri Birkelbach, and his daughter, Roberta.
The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 6, 2022 at the Mullins Funeral Home in Radford. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. After his cremation, some of his cremains will be placed at the Sunrise Burial Park atop the hill near the flag pole overlooking Fairlawn, the place where he planted his feet.
The Rollyson family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, Virginia. www.mullinsfuneralhome.com
Jerry king
February 1, 2022 @ 6:30 am
He was a great man too work for and to be around and most of all to learn from. Very smart. I enjoyed my years with Dick as we all knew him.
Rebecca Gravely
February 1, 2022 @ 11:13 am
Mr Rollyson was one of my favorite customers who came to McDonald’s. We used to sit and talk about a lot of stuff. I always gave him special treatments when it came to his orders and among other of my favorite customers. He will be missed a lot. I don’t work at McDonald’s anymore but he was always still my favorite.