Ronnie Rolen - Class of 1959

[Bob]

Ronald “Ronnie” Rolen, age 83, passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, after a long struggle with Lewy body dementia.

Born and raised in Lonsdale, Ronnie graduated from Rule High School where he was a stand-out basketball and baseball player. In his professional life, he worked for a time with his uncle Frank Lee delivering heating oil, where he met a young lady working at the oil company named Marie Asbury. After a first date that she swore would be the last, he showed up at her workplace with a gift of the latest Otis Redding album. The wooing worked, and they were married on April 10, 1970.

Ronnie found his vocational calling with the United States Post Office, where he worked for more than three decades until his retirement. During his career as a mail carrier, he cared deeply for the people he served on his route, and noted when his elderly regulars hadn’t greeted him to get their mail on schedule. He would immediately do a welfare check and assisted many of them after falls had left them unable to call for help.

Ronnie’s family was always his top priority and he cherished the summers spent at the family cabin on Ft. Loudon lake with his wife, children, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews and an extended network of family and friends. He spent many happy days on the lake or golfing on the “course” they built on property.

Golf became a big part of his life and he eagerly anticipated the trip to Myrtle Beach with his golfing buddies each year. He also was a devoted Tennessee Volunteers fan and perhaps his most beloved memories are of tailgating with his son, brother, nieces and nephews at home football games. He could always be relied on to be up and out the door before dawn to procure the coveted tailgating spot in G10.

Ronnie was a devoted and doting father and husband who never met a stranger and was always the life of the party. Even after his health dictated the move to assisted living, he could always be counted on making an entrance to activities, usually by crooning an Elvis Presley song as he entered the room.

Ronnie is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Nell Rolen, brother Bill Rolen, and sister Charlotte Brown. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marie Asbury Rolen, daughter Tina Rolen (husband Bill Pittman), son Ron Rolen (wife Ginger Rolen) and granddaughter Reese Rolen.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the entire staff at Oakwood Senior Living for their compassionate and loving care, especially Amanda and Leeann, and to Molly at Gentiva Hospice for making his transition a peaceful one.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 10:00 until 11:30 a.m. at Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee. In keeping with Ronnie’s love of tailgating at U.T., the family encourages everyone to come casually dressed for a tailgate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Young-Williams Animal Center, young-williams.org.