Roland Edward Driggers, a beloved and faithful husband, an exemplary father, a passionate coach and teacher, and dedicated follower of Christ, passed away peacefully at his home in San Antonio on Friday, January 24, 2025.
He was a man whose devotion to faith and family reflected his fulfilled life, set to celebrate his 92nd birthday this year, 70 years of marriage, and recently welcoming his 9th and 10th great grandkid to the world.
Born on October 24, 1933, in Trent, Texas, the first of five kids for Thelma and Ike Driggers, Roland spent his formative years in Clyde, TX where he developed a passion for sports, arithmetic, and his country, proudly serving as a Staff Segreant in the U.S. Army.
Upon his return from the service overseas in Germany, Roland met the love of his life in Pauline.
The freshly trained military man spent one of his first dates with Pauline target shooting, a date where he quickly discovered that a) Pauline had a better shot than him, and b) he was in love.
The two quickly married and began what would be not only a model love story, as they approached their 70th anniversary this June, but example too, as their three kids Paula, Buck and John David have all celebrated more than 35 years of marriage with their respective spouses Lyle, Elle, and Adie.
Roland was a constant source of love, direction, comfort, and joy for his kids, seven grandkids, ten great grandkids, as well as countless other kids with a life’s work in coaching and teaching.
A life’s work truly… Though retired long ago, Roland could still be seen coaching youth basketball at the church, doling out multiplication problems to his great grandkids at Thanksgiving, and trying to teach one very large dog how to behave at home.
When he wasn’t working with children, he was working in his shop, using his patience, precision and ambition to build anything one’s heart desires, from post office piggy banks to potato cannons.
And as he strived to create the best works possible and mold his offspring and students to be the best people possible, Roland worked to be the best man of God possible, devoutly following the word, constantly showing up at Church, and routinely giving more than he could afford to the Church.
Efforts that he’d say God blessed him handsomely for.
Roland is preceded in death by his father, Ike; mother, Thelma; sister, Rose Weaver. He is survived by his wife, Pauline Driggers; daughter, Paula Cannon (Lyle); sons, Buck Driggers (Elle) and John Driggers (Adie); grandchildren, Ashley Hay (Joshua), Andrea Cannon, Meredith Barker (Dustin), Abbie Driggers, Jake Driggers, Jordan Driggers (Lesley), and Katie Salas (Derek); great-grandchildren, Hadley, Lily, Cannon and Holden Hay; Kyle, Hastin, and Wylie Barker; Lennon and Rye Driggers; Cash Salas.
A Visitation will take place on Friday, January 31, 2025 from 5:00PM – 7:00PM at Porter Loring Mortuary North (2102 North Loop 1604 East).
A Funeral Service will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 11:00AM at Churchill Baptist Church (12400 Vista View Street).
A Graveside Service will take place on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 9:15 A.M. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery (1520 Harry Wurzbach Road)
Memorial contributions can be made to Dick Senter Ministries or Churchill Baptist Church.
