Roland Simmons Becton

Roland Simmons Becton went to his Heavenly home on May 30, 2022, after a long and vicious battle with CLL and Squamous Cell Cancer. He fought the good fight, kept the faith and finished his race. Roland was born on December 12, 1944, in Kinston, NC to Robert Lee Jr. and Edna Ruth (Grimes) Becton.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Danna Marie Scheumack Becton, his parents, 2 daughters, Sara Louise and Gina Renee Becton, his sister, Carrie Dean Seymour and husband Earl, his brother, Carson Ray Becton, and his brothers-in-law, Hulen “Butch” Akers and Wayne Mercer.

He is survived by his daughters, Robin and Lisa Becton, and Susan Lee and husband Verlin, his grandchildren, Isaac and Hannah Lee, his sisters, Jane Mercer Deaver and husband Garland, and Kay Ogle and husband Greg, his sister-in-law, Marilyn Akers, his brother-in-law, Jay Scheumack Jr. and wife Karen, numerous nieces and nephews, and many cousins and extended family and friends.

Roland grew up on the family farm. His great-grandfather passed on his land to his kids, which is mostly still in the family today. Roland and his siblings helped their parents on the farm, while other farmers would hire workers to help with the crops. They raised tobacco, corn, cotton, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and watermelon. Next door to the house was a country store they ran for a while. Roland remembered opening the store in the morning when he was 6 or 7 years old before his grandfather got there to finish out the day. During his childhood, he learned the importance of doing a job and doing it well and not shirking your duties, which led him to fare well in later years with his other employers. Roland attended and graduated from Contentnea School in Kinston before joining the Air Force, which brought him to Bergstrom Air Force Base. After he was discharged from the Air Force, he started working at Tracor Instruments.

Roland met Danna on January 15, 1967, at Faith Tabernacle in East Austin, which was founded in 1906 by her paternal grandfather, J.D. Scheumack. They married on November 22, 1968. Together, they attended Community Church under the leadership of Calvin and Steryl Cook, where they served in many aspects of the ministry over the years. Roland was a Sunday School Teacher, Church Board Member, Deacon, Legendary Men’s Breakfast Cook, and Jack of All Trades. He and Danna had 5 daughters; one died at birth. He continued to work at Tracor until 1985 when he moved to Marble Falls, Texas, where he ran Rolando’s Pizza with Danna and “the girls”. He always said if he had a warehouse full of gold, he would still starve because he wasn’t a salesman. He started work at Nth Graphics in 1986, where he founded their production department and wrote their MRP system. He started there with a desk, a pad, a pen, and a computer….with a 5 MB hard drive. His ties to Tracor later helped Roland open his own business in 1992. Gina had recently graduated from college and Roland told her if she would go with him, they would set up shop and do whatever work God sent them to do. Eventually, the business became a family operation with Roland, Danna, and the girls all working there full-time. He continued to run the business until October 19, 2021, when his medical treatments made it impossible for him to continue. Roland was a devoted husband, dad, Granddaddy, son, brother, uncle, and friend. He has left a legacy that will carry on in the many lives he has touched.

Services will be conducted by Cook-Walden Funeral Home on North Lamar. The visitation will be Friday, June 24th 5-7 PM. The service will be Saturday, June 25th at 11 AM. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery (8698 E. Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78744). Then, there will be a meal provided at Family Worship Center (2425 Farm to Market Rd. 1704, Elgin, TX 78621). Please join the family for food and fellowship.