William "Will" Melvin Rollins, Jr.

William “Will” Melvin Rollins, Jr., 75, went to be with the Lord, Friday, December 9, 2022. A native and lifelong resident of Poquoson, Will was born November 30, 1947, to the late Carrie Forrest Rollins and William M. Rollins, Sr. As a child Will loved riding bikes with his siblings to Grandmother’s house and spending time with his grandfather “Doll” while his mother and grandmother shopped. He inherited a love of hunting and boat building. Will retired from NASA as a Branch Head of the fabrication division after 30 years of service. He earned A Special Achievement Award from the Langley Research Center. He was also a Master boat builder and owner of Rollins Boatyard. He forged custom Rollins’ clam rakes.

Will was a notable boat builder with 50+ models to his credit. He loved his time on the water: boating, fishing, and clamming. He hosted friends for the weekday morning coffee hour, Monday and Wednesday night meetings, and Friday night family “prayer meeting.” He was a self-taught guitarist and banjo player; Will enjoyed music from Bluegrass to Opera. He was a avid weekly golfer and a longtime member of JOUAM and served a term as Counselor.

Will was also a lifetime member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Poquoson.

Will is preceded in death by his parents William and Carrie Rollins, Sr.; grandparents, William Thomas and Mary Evans Rollins, and Henry Milton and Nellie Geneva Forrest; and his faithful Lab companion, Meg who was with him for 16 years.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Nancy Lawson Rollins; children, Bethany Abston (Lee), Bonny Wiggins (Scott), Joe Rollins (Amy), June Forrest (Dave); grandchildren, Carrie Wilbanks (Caleb), April Lutz (Tim), Jolie Wiggins, Trevor Wiggins, Hayley Rollins, Lexie Rollins, Macie Jo Rollins, Camden Holcomb, Katie Holcomb, Crosby Forrest and William Forrest; great-grandchildren, Dorothy Lutz and August Lutz; siblings, Dave (Trudy), Susan (Phillip), Tom, Laurie (Wayne), and Marie (Greg), and his loving dog, Sadie.

The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. Monday, December 12th at Claytor Rollins Funeral Home. A celebration of Will’s life will take place 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 13th at Trinity United Methodist Church with the burial immediately following at Weston Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Darlene Palacious and Ashley Leggett for their loving care.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to either Trinity United Methodist Church or St. Jude.

Arrangements and heartfelt guidance through Claytor Rollins Funeral Home.

Online condolences to claytorrollins.com.

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