Raymond Willard Roller |
| Posted 2009-05-11 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, May 06, 2009 Rev. Raymond Willard Roller, age 88, passed away on May 1, 2009, in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was born to Charles Edward Roller and Viola (Ellingwood) Roller on March 23, 1921, in Hettick, Ill. He graduated from Greenville College, Ill., in 1944 with a B.A. degree. He was the first pastor for Free Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, from 1944-1948. Ray married Joan on Sept. 1, 1948. They attended Asbury Theological Seminary; Ray graduated with a Master of Divinity. In 1951, Ray was organizing pastor of a new church in Dallas, Texas (started in a tent). He established a growing church and successful Christian school. While there, sons Charles and Michael were born. From 1959-60 Ray was Texas Conference Superintendent. From 1960 he served four churches in the Southern California-Arizona Conference; Barstow and Grosmont as pastor; Fontana and Marina Del Rey as administrator and principal of their Christian schools. At Marina he completed requirements for a Ph.D. On July 4, 1977, Ray moved to Prescott, Ariz., where he served the Free Methodist Church as pastor, retiring in 1983. He also served on an organizing committee for Hospice of Prescott and board of directors for 11 years. During his pastorate and years as Chaplain, Ray baptized more than 290 people, married more than 390 couples and conducted more than 550 funerals. From 1978 until 2001 he was the Prescott VA Medical Center Contract Chaplain. Raymond was offered Chaplain-Director of Pastoral Care at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center and served in that position for more than 24 years, recruiting and supervising over 50 volunteer chaplains. In March 2009, Ray celebrated his 88th birthday and was honored as the oldest of YRMC's 1,900 employees. At 87, instead of retiring, Ray was offered a new position as pastoral care coordinator. There will be a public viewing from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2009, at Hampton Funeral Home. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9, at the Free Methodist Church in Prescott. Please know that it was my father's humble request that instead of sending flowers, donations be made to the Raymond and Joan Roller memorial fund established to provide for children to attend Church Camp. Please make contributions to the Prescott Free Methodist Church, designated for the Memorial Camp Fund, 2797 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, Ariz., 86301. Hampton Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit www.hamptonfuneralhome.com to sign Raymond's guest book. Information provided by survivors. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?