Roland Hottle “Skeezix” Coles

Viewing
November 20th, 2016,
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Oakey’s South Chapel
4257 Brambleton Ave. Roanoke VA, 24018

Service of Death and Resurrection
November 21, 2016
2:00 pm

Oakey’s South Chapel
4257 Brambleton Ave. Roanoke VA, 24018

Roland Hottle “Skeezix” Coles died on November 17, 2016. He is survived by the love of his life, Margaret K. Coles, daughters; Carol Stockton (Kenneth) and Kendra Flores; sons Russell “Sam” Coles and Joe B. “Jay” Smith;  grandchildren Andi Florez, Matt Florez, Summer Olinger, Hunter Donovan, Taler Coles; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Wendell and Sallie Coles; brother, John; sisters, Mary Hancock, LoAnn, Bess, and Martha; and son Mark.
Skeezix was born at Shenandoah Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia July 28, 1933, and lived on Bent Mountain until 1952 when, at age 17, he left the family’s farm to join the Air Force, serving as a Radar Mechanic (Air Borne). After military service, he attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, graduating in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Poultry Husbandry. He was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, Honor Society of Agriculture. He remained a devoted Virginia Tech football and basketball fan throughout his life. He was a lifetime Golden Hokie and member of the Franklin County Hokie Club serving as a past president.
Equally devoted to his career, Skeezix built the family farm on Bent Mountain to Coles Egg Farm, one of the largest on the East Coast.  He was awarded many accolades, including Egg Producer of the Year by the Virginia Poultry Federation in 1970, President of the National Egg Company 1976.  He was invited to the White House as a member of the Advisory Committee on Poultry Health in 1975.  He often shook his head in awe at how fortunate “this boy from Bent Mountain” was to have earned a college degree “against all the odds and riding a girl’s bike.”  His actions reflected his pride of his school through the endowment of lifetime athletic scholarships.
Skeezix was a humble man who loved to talk about his childhood, whether it was reminiscing about his mother’s cooking or the fun he had growing up on Bent Mountain. He was active in the Methodist Church throughout his life, most recently at Raleigh Court United Methodist Church.
Retiring at age 48, he and Margaret spent 30 years at Smith Mountain Lake where he became famous for his bloody marys. He and Margaret enjoyed golf at the Waterfront Country Club, bridge, traveling with their friends, and most importantly, they relished time spent on the lake with their children, grandchildren, and dogs which he affectionately called “fleabags.”
The family expresses gratitude to Jennifer Reed, caregiver.
Visitation will be Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, from 2 until 4 pm at Oakey’s South Chapel. A Memorial Service with military honors will be held on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, at 2 pm at Oakey’s South Chapel.
At Skeezix’s request, at a later date, a celebration will be held at Brandon Oakes “because they always serve cookies.”
Instead of flowers, the family suggests donations to Brandon Oakes Endowment Fund or the charity of your choice. www.oakeys.com