Roland Worrell Sr.

Roland was born on May 8, 1931 in Cranfills Gap, Texas to William Clyde Worrell and Aggie Elnora Fields. He was proud to have been born “at the Gap,” but especially proud of his Norwegian heritage from his maternal grandmother, and often used the phrase “Uff Da” he learned from her whenever he would sit down after a hard day’s work.

Roland was a hard worker even at a young age, and was given the chores of feeding the chickens, building the fire, and often had to pick cotton with his family instead of attending school. He also loved riding bicycles, but finally decided he needed a car after high school when he started seriously dating his childhood sweetheart, Lena Jean Marx.

Roland’s family moved to the Oak Hill area in the early 1940s where he spent his teenage years. After he married, he and his wife Lena lived in Austin until 1968, then moved back to Oak Hill. In 1991, they moved to Dripping Springs where they lived out their retirement years.

Roland began working as a linoleum layer in 1949 but put that job on hold when he was drafted into the Army in March of 1951.

Roland said that they wanted him to be a radio operator, but he didn't want to be "cooped-up" in a tent all day - he wanted to see some of Korea while he was there, so "after some pleading with the sergeant,” the Army made Roland a driver for a SCRTC communications vehicle.

While in Korea, he received three Bronze Service Stars and after 21 months, was discharged in December of 1952.

When Roland returned home, he continued working as a linoleum layer and eventually transitioned into carpet laying, which he continued until he retired in 1996. He became an expert at his craft and often told the story of being asked to lay carpet for someone named “Willie Nelson,” but was too busy to take the job.

Roland and Lena married on October 15, 1954 when he was 23 and she was 18. They were blessed with four children: Roland (Rusty) Vee Jr., Jeffrey (Jeff) Wayne, and twins Janice Helen and Jerry Hal.

Roland became a Christian when he was a teenager but didn’t go to church regularly until he began attending First Baptist Church of Oak Hill. There, he faithfully served as a deacon for many years, a Sunday School teacher, and on many other committees.

Roland will always be remembered for his selfless service, his humble heart, his love for the Lord, and his kindness and compassion towards friends and strangers alike.

Roland is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Vernon Lee Worrell, his wife Lena of sixty-two years, and his two sons, Roland (Rusty) Vee Worrell Jr., and Jeffrey (Jeff) Wayne Worrell.

Roland is survived by his sister Irelene (Worrell) Turner and her husband Charles of Georgetown, Texas and one brother, Larry Worrell and his wife Connie of Forth Worth; his daughter, Janice H. Oliver and husband Darral of Dripping Springs, Texas, and son Jerry H. Worrell and wife Linda of Farmington, New Mexico; grandchildren Jonathan Jones and wife Amy, Jeremy Worrell and wife Stephanie, Amanda Oliver, Amber Oliver, Sabrina Lancaster, Heather Worrell ; great-grandchildren Sydney, Jackson, Ophelia, Madison, Alex, and Jorin.

He will be laid to rest next to his wife Lena at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park in Oak Hill, Texas.