Donald John Roll

April 22, 1937 – February 24, 2018

Acworth, Georgia – Donald John Roll was called home to the Lord on February 24rd at the age of 80 in Acworth, Georgia.

Don was born on April 22, 1937 in Manchester, NY to Louise Rosina (Wolf) Roll and Edwin William (Popsie) Roll. He was raised on a family farm, one of nine children (Edwin, Richard, Violet, David, Hilda, Arlene, Lois, and Sharon) and had a loving home that he was very proud of. Even at age 80, he would talk about how wonderful his parents were and how he missed them. Don started school in a one-room schoolhouse where he was the entire first grade. He graduated from Clifton Springs High School and Buffalo State University. He was an officer in the Air Force and Air National Guard, serving as an electronics warfare officer on B-52s and eventually as commander of the Schenectady Communications Flight at Stratton Air National Guard Base. For most of his career, though, he was an industrial arts teacher at Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake Central School where he loved his students and built sets for the drama productions.

Don married Barbara Jean Chapman in 1963. They were married for 54 years and loved each other very much. They held hands constantly and always kissed after the dinner prayer. They had two daughters, Krista (Roll) Conrick of Glens Falls, NY, and Kimberly (Roll) Ingram of Atlanta, GA. Kimberly spent a great deal of time caring for him toward the end of his life. They also had two grandchildren, Emma Conrick and Aidan Conrick of Glens Falls, NY, a foster daughter who predeceased them, Sherry (Garahan) Gass, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Don was a character all his life! He loved to laugh, tell jokes and be silly. He would walk like a chicken in the mall when his daughters were teenagers and have water gun fights with his students. He drew funny cartoons and loved words like dorky duds and puberty. Anything for a laugh! He was a big man who adored the three tiny dogs he had during the course of his life (Pixie, Tinkerbell, and Lilly). He carried them with him everywhere and spent countless hours with them snuggled under his chin.

Don was a dedicated Christian and member of the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa. Over the years he served the church as usher, deacon, trustee, elder, Gideon, Sunday school teacher, choir member and unofficial new baby holder. He practiced kindness, generosity and integrity. He never met a stranger and was a bighearted friend to all. His family remembers him as a great source of love, fun, encouragement, wisdom and bear hugs.

Visiting hours for Don will be in the chapel at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, Kennesaw, GA, on Thursday, March 1, 2018, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM., funeral at 11:30 AM. Burial with full military honors to follow at 2:30 PM at the Georgia National Cemetery, Canton. His Celebration of Life Service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, NY, on March 24, 2018, at 11:00 AM. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers or donations, his family would like to collect memories of Don: photos, personal recollections and stories from long ago. Contributions can be sent to [email protected]