THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RICHARD E. ROLLER
November 22, 1922 - September 6, 2024
Richard (Dick) Roller was born on November 22, 1922, to Edwin and Maud (Trudeau) Roller. He was one of four children; brothers Bill & Sonny and sister Jane completed the family. Times were tough during the Great Depression and the family lost their home when their Dad was laid off from Ford Motor. During the depression, Dick and his father went to farmers markets to buy food which they delivered in bushel baskets to friends, neighbors and family in need.
Dick met Marian Kelly in grade school and a lifetime loving bond was created. Dick and Marian were married in 1942, but their early married life was interrupted by WWII. Dick was working as an 18-year-old tool and die apprentice at Ford Motor Company when he and a select group of apprentices were called into a meeting. They were promoted to Foreman and would be supervising a team of women who had never been employed. They were to build B-24 Bombers at the Willow Run plant. Dick continued in this position for a year then decided he needed to aid the war effort in a different way. He left Ford, giving up his war deferment and joined the Merchant Marine. He was sent to New York for training and qualified as a Second Engineer on Liberty ships. He transported military supplies to both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He was very proud of his wartime service. At the end of the war, he returned to the USA and Marian.
It was now time to buy a home and start a family. In January 1946, Rick was born, Carol in July 1950 and Ron in September 1953.
Back at Ford Motor, Dick resumed to his job and over a 37-year career held several positions. He became a noted quality control expert and performed as a non-degreed Quality Engineer. Later in his career he was called upon by Bill Ford (CEO Ford Motor Company) for advice on resolving quality issues. He regularly attended Mr. Ford’s staff meetings.
Upon retirement in 1979, Dick became a quality consultant and took various domestic and foreign assignments. On one assignment he spent several months in Italy with Marian.
The family grew as his children grew up and married and had families of their own.
Rick has a daughter Kristine who married Jason, and they have three sons, Brady, Noah and August. A son Dan was born in 1974. He married Kerry and they have three sons, Bennett, Colten and Anderson and a daughter, Alexandria.
Carol has a daughter Yvonne, who has two daughters, Samantha and Remy. Carol also has four sons; Jason, who has a son Nolan. Demian who married Claire and has a daughter Ireland and two sons, Will and Archer. A son Kye, who lives in California. Carol’s fourth son Don, passed away in 2023.
Ron has a son Miles, who married Kelly and has two sons, Jack and Clive. Ron also has a daughter, Ellie who married Owen, and have a son named Owen.
In 1984, tragedy struck when Marian was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Over the next 10 years, Dick, with Carol’s help, provided loving home care to Marian until her death in 1994.
After a very dark time Dick began seeing a family friend, Lillian. Love blossomed and in 1996 Dick and Lillian were married. Our family expanded and Lillian’s children and grandchildren joined the clan.
Dick and Lillian enjoyed their lives and family. They wintered in Florida and took numerous cruises. Then, another hard blow, Lillian age 91, passed away. Dick was devastated again.
By this time Dick was 95 years old and living alone in a large condo. This was not working. His children, specifically Carol, “encouraged” him to move to an upscale senior retirement home, Silver Maples, located in Chelsea, Michigan. Both Carol and Ron lived nearby and regularly visited him every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Rick also visited when he could and connected by phone. Lillian’s daughter, Louise, and her brother, Patrick, also visited regularly. Lillian’s son Alex lives in Arkansas and talked with Dick frequently by phone.
It was noted that he had the most visitors of anyone at Silver Maples. Dick’s time at Silver Maples was a very happy time for him. He made many friends and was impressed with the facilities and friendly staff. On November 22, 2022, we had a large gathering at Silver Maples celebrating his 100th birthday.
Until the day of the stroke, Dick was a happy, cheerful, engaged member of the Silver Maples community enjoying an independent-living apartment. His family was present at the time of his passing four days later, on September 6, 2024.
Dick was a committed do-it-yourself project guy. He could build or fix whatever he was interested in. Friends and family frequently called on him to assist with home improvement and repair issues. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and golf. He was a true gentleman. He never complained or spoke unkindly of anyone.
Dick left very clear instructions regarding the end of his life. He did not want any special activities following his death. The family will participate in a private Celebration of Life in his honor at a later date.
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