Vicheal Gene "V.G." Rollins

Funeral services for Vicheal Gene (V.G.) Rollins will be held at First Baptist Church Longview Sanctuary on 23 July 2016 at 10:00 AM. Visitation will be on 22 July 2016 in the Fellowship Hall from 5:00 – 8:00 PM. V.G. was born on May 31, 1929 in Mildred, Texas and died on July 13, 2016 in Lufkin, Texas. He grew up throughout the East Texas region as his father worked in the oilfields. His early schooling was at Gaston Elementary and Junior High School and he graduated from London High School in 1946. He then entered the Corps of Cadets at Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering, which is the same year that he married his longtime love, Mavis Amelia Mills. He began working for Texas Eastman Company in 1950; but was activated in 1951 in the United States Army as a Lieutenant in Field Artillery. His assignments included Fort Sill, OK Fort Polk, LA, and eventually Germany as a Reconnaissance and Survey Officer for the 593rd Field Artillery Battalion (N), an eight-inch howitzer, self-propelled unit. Upon his discharge from the U.S. Army, he returned to working for Texas Eastman Company in 1952. V.G. retired after 39 years of service as a Senior Chemical Engineer with Texas Eastman Company in Longview, Texas. He was a Registered Professional Chemical Engineer in the State of Texas and continued his education earning a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering in 1972 from his alma mater, Texas A&M University. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, a Life Member of the Texas Eastman Recreation Club, District 10 Governor of the Texas Field Archery Association, Texas Representative to the Southern Section of the National Field Archery Association, Texas Forestry Association, National Rifle Association, Longview Stamp Club, Scouts on Stamps Society International, Century Club member of the TAMU Association of Former Students, the Membership Chairman of The Deep East Texas A&M Club, Longview Lobo's Band Boosters Club, and worked with the East Texas Area Camp Fire Girls. He was Treasurer of the East Texas Treasure Hunters Association, and the Treasurer of the Texas Council of Treasure Clubs. He has located many lost rings, keys and other valuable objects for people in Longview, including the Longview Police Department. V.G. dabbled in wood carving, rock and mineral collecting, model railroading, coin collecting, relic and artifact collecting, and collecting in general. V.G. was a member of the First Baptist Church Longview working as a Group Care Leader in Sunday School, a Past President of the Adult Day BXYZ group, and on the Senior Adult Committee of the church. He also was a Route Carrier for Meals-on-Wheels and a Food Service Committee member. However, his real passion and the one that had the greatest impact was being a member of the Boy Scouts of America, which he was actively involved in for over 65 years. He became involved not as a Boy Scout, but as a leader while at Texas A&M College, serving as Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 253, Gulf Oil Company, Laird Hill; Scoutmaster Troop 217, Salvation Army, Longview; Cubmaster Pack 221, First Baptist Church; and finally Scoutmaster of Troop 201, Longview Lions Club. He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 201 in Longview, Texas for over twenty-three years. He had an outstanding program which produced more than fifty Eagle Scouts. V.G. was an excellent role model for all the scouts in his troop, as well as their parents, and lived the Scout Oath and Law. For the period of his service as Scoutmaster the people of Longview looked up to him as representing Scouting and all the good things that can come from it. Scouting was his life credo. V.G. has served as a Jamboree Leader at National and World Jamborees. He has attended National Jamborees in 1964, 1969, 1973, 1977, 1981, and 1985 and World Jamborees in 1967, 1971, and was to go to the one in Iran in 1979 but it was postponed. He attended training courses at Philmont Training Center for Boy Scout Leaders, Boy Scout Leader Trainers, Boy Scout Roundtables, and attended Key-3 training at Philmont. V.G.'s many scouting awards include Vigil member in Tejas Lodge No. 72, Commission as a Scoutmaster, the Scouter’s Training Award, Scoutmaster’s Key, Unit Organizers Award, District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver, National Eagle Society of America Outstanding Scoutmaster of the East Texas Area Council and Region 9, Commissioner’s Arrowhead Honor, Commissioner’s Key, Distinguished Roundtable Commissioner’s Award, James E. West Fellow, Good Shepherd Emblem of the Association of Baptists for Scouting, many Fifty Miler Awards, Mile Swim Awards, Cold Weather Camping Awards, Historical Treks, and working his way up the Friends of Scouting Recognitions. V.G. was a shining example of what scouting is all about and the epitome of scouting for his District, Council, and Area. V.G. was preceded in death by his wife Mavis Mills Rollins; daughter Vicky Gene Rollins Collins; grandson James R. (Jay) Rollins, II; parents James L. and Mae B. Rollins; and brother Juan Lewis Rollins. Surviving are his son, Jim Bob Rollins and wife, Donna, of Lufkin; grandchildren Robin and Jeffrey; brother, James T. Rollins of Henderson; sister, Shirley Ann Harris Sparks Cox of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; brother-in-law Robert P. Mills, and wife, Beverly, of Houston; and son-in-law Robert Collins, of Longview; and numerous nephews and nieces. Pallbearers are his Former Scouts. Special Pallbearer is John A. Connolly and Michael Thibodeaux. Honorary Pallbearers are the surviving members of Eastman Poker Buddies: Bob Adams, Bob Collins, George Cook, Wayne Dolive, James Egner, Joe Kalenda, and Steve Sides. The family would like to express its deepest appreciation to Jo Ann Lovick and her family for their support, love, and guidance through these last few years not only to my Dad, but my Mother during her final years. The family will receive friends (Visitation) at First Baptist Church Longview, Fellowship Hall, Friday, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. for his last Scoutmaster’s Roundtable (Cracker Barrel) where friends and former Scouts can share in cheese, bologna, salami, crackers, red bug juice, and memories of their time in Scouting and Scoutmaster V.G. Rollins. His Final Court of Honor Service will be held Saturday, 10:00 a.m., at First Baptist Church Longview, with internment at Memorial Park Cemetery following a “Last Coffee on V.G.” at the Coffee Cafe in the Welcome Center. Those desiring to do so may make contributions to the Troop 201 Alumni Foundation, c/o Tom Hays, Treasurer, 1213 Harvest Lane, Longview, TX 75604-6202; First Baptist Church of Longview, or charity of your choosing.

Vicheal Gene "V.G." Rollins

May 31, 1929 - July 13, 2016