22, 2018 at Inpatient Covenant Hospice at Sacred Heart Hospital. Surrounded by his loving family, he
succumbed to a valiant battle with Parkinsons Disease.
Roderick was born March 8, 1938 in Blountstown, Florida. He graduated from Blountstown High
School in 1956. Roderick attended college In Georgia for a year and attended Chipola Junior College to
study engineering. He then moved to Pensacola, Florida in 1959 to take a job at Chemstrand Chemical
Plant. Roderick roomed at the historic Hopkins Boarding House until such time as he found a suitable
apartment. He joined the Army National Guard in 1961 as an E2 Radio Mechanic with an honorable
discharge in 1966. In 1964 he married Barbara McLeod whom with he had three children. He then
managed a Donut Shop for a while. They moved to Mississippi in 1965 where he became a
convenience store manager with the Little General Company transferring back to Pensacola six months
after. Roderick opened his first of many Kwik Shop Convenience Stores in 1969 on Michigan Avenue
in Pensacola, Florida. The convenience store business was his work, hobby and passion. He went on to
open more stores in the Pensacola, Cantonment, Pace and Navarre areas having as many as six stores at one time. Roderick and Barbara divorced in 1976. He married Shirley Cockrell in 1982 and gained two
more children. Roderick was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in 1999. He continued to work with
Shirley by his side until he retired in 2013.
Roderick was preceded in death by his parents, Corley and Margaret Newman, as well as his first wife
Barbara Newman.
He is survived by his wife Shirley Newman, Daughter Glenna (John) Madden, Son Brian (Jacqui)
Newman, Stepson Jeff Cockrell, Stepdaughter Angela (Michael) Radomski and Son Daniel Newman;
Brother Robert Newman, Sister Alice (Carl) McCardle, Brother Stephen (Sylvia) Newman;
Grandchildren Tiffany (Phillip) Eubanks, Alexanderia Newman, Ashley (Kyle) Tyrolt, Samantha
Newman, Weston Williams, Margaret Newman, John Newman, Elizabeth Madden and Nolen Cockrell;
Great Grandchildren Raegan Ludvik, Jase Eubanks and Jessa Eubanks; Special friends Donald Rushing
and Ray and Ursula Gentry.
Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be Monday,
March 26, 2018 from 1pm until 2 pm. Funeral services will begin at 2pm. Reception to follow.
The family wishes to thank the Staff of Inpatient Covenant Hospice at Sacred Heart Hospital for their
great compassion and expertise in caring for Roderick.
