The greatest man I’ve ever known graced the world with his arrival on our southern shores in the lands where Louisiana and Texas meet in a low area on the Sabine River named the “cove.”
Our town where he stretched his legs was famous for making naval ships for the second Great War.
Roland’s father Lylies suddenly died when he was a child, possibly From returning home after the first Great War.
His family was not well off, worked hard and clawed for what they could. Besides What he didn’t have, he realized he was blessed beyond measure with what was around him, a southern prairie, marshland, and riverbottom ripe with life and pulling at his sense of adventure.

I remember sitting as a child and Roland telling me the stories of catching boat fulls and fish and shooting his 22 for squirrels, turtles, and rabbits.

He spend his academic years at Saint Mary’s Catholic school, it set the course of his faith, built the discipline in his studies, and its where he would meet the love of his life Shirley Ann.

It would ultimately be the backdrop of his story, a true catholic, Christian man.

As many Americans know there’s an urge to serve your home nation, he answered that call as his two brothers did.

he served in the Untied States Air force and was sent to Korea for what many call the forgotten war. I loved listening to the story’s of his travels, on train from the depot in downtown Orange all the way to California by train and Asia by ship, and back again.

After returning home from Korea his roots settled deep into Orange, Texas and he swore he would have and keep Shirley Ann by his side.

They were married at Saint Mary’s and started their family. Five amazing children that would be the blueprint of a family bloodline of Wolfford’s at this day with over 30 strong.

Roland was a man that was always striving to be his best, he would continue his academic studies later in mid life and graduate from Lamar University.

he use to tell me “ you’re never to old to learn something new.” The knowledge and how-to he possessed was astonishing to me as a child.

I grew up seeing photos of cars on a level my generation only Witnessed in magazines, hot rods sitting in the same driveway my cousins and I played on. On the other side of the coin he could write DOS computer code and he literally build the software program my mother ran her successful business on.

The successful careers and hobbies of his children, grand children and so on are a direct reflection of his knowledge and wisdom passed on. His character was reflected in his work and loyalty after a long and wonderful career at Firestone, Never Late, Always early for over 35 years. I remember the old saying I think fits him, “Dreams don’t work unless you do.”

His dreams, passions and love for his family, country and faith bare fruit in the service work he did on his free time. As one of my cousins said “I can’t think of a single thing he wasn’t their for.” Is simply a truth.

He was always their for anyone in our family who needed it, day or night, rain or shine. A lighthouse, when our seas became to ruff. A comforting embrace when things seem cold, and an open ear without judgment for our hearts concerns. A man of strength, faith, love, knowledge, and integrity.

I think of the Greek proverb he embodied -“ children grow great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

Our conversations on history, war, family and country are forever catalogued away in my mind and are held with the highest regard.

Roland’s life was a beautiful adventure, a storybook with the title colored in red,white and blue “The American Dream.” If there ever was a story of how we want a life to be full and beautiful, it’s the story of Roland M Wolfford.

I thank GOD for the time he spent with us, the kindness he shared, the love felt, the wisdom given and rejoice that men like him have lived.