LAVALLEE ROLAND C

CW2 Roland "Roly" C. Lavallee was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 10/15/2021 at the age of 79.8 from Cancer
Myrtle Beach, SC
Flight Classes 68-11 and 68-17
Date of Birth 12/27/1941
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 128 AHC in 68-69
Call signs in Vietnam TOMAHAWK 69, GUNSMOKE
This information was provided by Sammie Williams - Obit

More detail on this person: December 27, 1941 - October 15, 2021 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - CWO2 Roland C. Lavallee flew to his final LZ on Friday, October 15, 2021 after a courageous fight with cancer. Roland passed away peacefully in his sleep, joining his wife Carole, daughter Linda, and parents Marion & Conrad Lavallee. Warrant Officer Lavallee, beloved brother, husband, and father, was a highly decorated and combat wounded Veteran who was immensely proud of his military service. Roland was born in Burlington, Vermont and graduated from Rice Memorial High School. Roland joined the US Navy as an Ordnanceman, then married Carole, the love of his life, in 1962. He worked at IBM, where his career was interrupted by his call to serve his country again as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam Conflict. Roland was medically retired from the Service due to wounds suffered in combat. He then returned to Vermont to raise his family and resume work at IBM where he crafted a career in Cryogenic and Vacuum technologies. Renowned for his expertise in these fields, he taught classes in these disciplines across the country. His intelligence, wit and smile touched all who knew him and made him many lifelong friends. Upon retirement, Roland and Carole relocated to Myrtle Beach, SC to enjoy the warmer climate and make many more new friends. Roland, an avid marksman, took up Rimfire Benchrest shooting and competed successfully at events throughout the South over the years, forging many new friendships along the way. Also an avid painter of both cars and guns, his artistic legacy will live on in the many custom guns he painted for his shooting colleagues. His knack for all things mechanical and willingness to help will be remembered by his many friends and neighbors. Roland is survived by his children, John, Karen, Laura, and Michelle; his grandchildren Jennifer, Jonathan, Claire, Curtis, Shelby and Jacob; and his great grandchildren Daniel and Stella. He also leaves his sister Anne and her husband Richard, his brother Paul and his wife Jeanne, Pat and Gayle Ravey, Tom & Carol Lyman and Marcia Lyman. Services will be held on Friday, October 22, 2021 at 2pm at St. Michael Catholic Church in Garden City, and will also be live streamed at www.saintmichaelsc.net

Burial information: Saint Michael Columbarium, Garden City Beach, SC

This information was last updated 10/27/2021

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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