Roland H. Custalow

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Roland H. “Rocky” Custalow Sr. who was born June 8, 1935, and passed away quietly from complications due to Alzheimer’s in the early morning hours on February 8, 2022.

He is survived by:

Sisters: Phyllis McGann – Athens, Georgia

Evelyn Clementson – Philadelphia, PA

Sons: Roland Custalow - Spartanburg, SC

John, Kenny and Jamie Custalow -Tampa, FL

Daughters: Deborah Leonard - Tampa, FL

Lois Dalvand - Ft Myers, FL

Grandchildren: Victoria Custalow – Raleigh, NC

Nicholas Custalow – Tampa, Fl

Lydia Custalow

Madlyn Custalow

Amanda and Josh Dalvand Ft. Myers, Fl

(shout out to Jamie and Aubrey for the .5) coming soon

Great grandchildren: Azalea and Asher

He was a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather and proud member of the Mattaponi Indian Tribe in Virginia. He spent his childhood growing up on the Mattaponi reservation. The tribe has been in this region for over 15,000 years. The Mattaponi are one of the six original tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy, also one of the original core tribes of the Powhatan chiefdom and the Great Chief Powhatan Wahunsenakah, the father of Pocahontas, who ruled most of Tidewater Virginia when the Europeans arrived in 1607. Dad enjoyed hunting, playing fast pitch softball, race cars, and was one of the best billiard and dart players I have ever seen. He was at one time a boxer and I believe this is where he got his nickname “Rocky”. His family moved from the reservation to Philadelphia where he worked for his uncles repairing fork lifts and hydraulic machinery. Wanting more for himself and his family, he decided to move to Florida circa 1963, where he purchased a brand-new home and founded “Fork Lift Trucks Inc.” He was also a big fan of country music … yes, the twangy kind … and watching westerns on TV; I recall times when he would recite the actors’ phrases verbatim before they spoke, "spoiler alert”. He was known to occasionally play the guitar and sing with his Uncle James, and when CB radios were the thing, he went by the handle of “Indian Boy”. Dad had an infectious smile and was well loved by all who knew him. People were drawn to him; he was quick witted and always had a hilarious phase or joke that kept you laughing. Not just the life of the party, but “The Party”. He will truly be missed, rest in peace Dad.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gardenofmemoriestampa.com for the CUSTALOW family.