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Rollin Glen Southwell

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Highland High School Brigham Young University

Rollin Southwell Obituary

1936 ~ 2013
Rollin Glen Southwell passed away suddenly on Sunday, March 24th, 2013 while on the road in Iowa.
Born February 9, 1936 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska he had just turned 77 years old. He attended first and second grades in Gering, Nebraska then finished elementary and high school in Huntley, Wyoming. Rollin was raised on the Southwell family homestead in Goshen County Wyoming. A graduate of Huntley High School class of 1954, he played on their small town 6-man football team. He later served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1959-1961 in the Northwestern States Mission.
Rollin Southwell was a great teacher and educator. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1965 and received his Masters in Education from Utah State in 1977. He taught Industrial Arts (i.e. Shop class) at Highland High School and Math at Hillside Middle School for the Salt Lake School District. Upon his retirement, he pursued his passion for history and travel with his involvement in the preservation of the Lincoln Highway, the first privately funded paved road from coast to coast built in 1913. He was instrumental in the completion of a monument to Carl Fisher, located at the top of Johnson (Fisher) Pass on state highway 199 between Clover and Terra, Utah. For this work, he received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Utah State Historical Society for his efforts to preserve the history of Fisher Pass. Never one to sit still, Rollin was also active with numerous personal family history projects, including genealogy work in England and a history of homesteading in the Table Mountain region of Wyoming.
At one point during his earthly travels, no one had heard from Rollin for several days. His middle child, Elizabeth messaged him chiding to keep in contact, so people would know he was okay. He replied, "There is a rumor on the Internet that I have past away - not so, may the Lincoln Highway live forever, as Carl Fisher said it would." Yes, indeed. Rollin Southwell's legacy is preserved in the memories and work he left behind.
A memorial service will be held Monday, April 1st, 2013 at the LDS Chapel located at 185 P St, Salt Lake City, UT 84103. Friends are invited to join family for prayers beginning at 9:30 am followed by his funeral at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers his children, Marie, Elizabeth and Robert kindly ask that donations be made to the Utah State Historical Society in honor of his love for historical research.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Deseret News from Mar. 30 to Mar. 31, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Rollin Southwell

Sponsored by Robert Southwell.

28 Entries

Theresa Russell

May 22, 2013

I met Rollin at the Jefferson Highway Association conference. I enjoyed talking with him and will miss him at future meetings. He was an exceptional addition to our group. You will be missed, Rollin!

Paula Sims

May 10, 2013

To the families of Rollin,
Finding the right words at this time is always difficult, just know you are not alone in your grief. All of us at St. Bartholomew's in Ely, NV, miss him as well. He was a good friend.
Paula Sims

April 18, 2013

We are so sorry to hear of Rollin's passing. Our sympathies go out to his family.
White Pine Historical Car Club
Ely, NV

Paul Johnson

April 12, 2013

To the family of Rollin Southwell:
I grew to know Rollin through the Ely Lion's Club. The picture on this guest book is precisely how I remember him. He seemed to be a very caring, compassionate man and was always eager to share a smile! We will miss him but cherish the fond memories he provided.

Lisa Gilbert

April 5, 2013

Rollin...what a guy. Always had a twinkle in his eye and ready to give you a Lincoln Highway story. I met the "Lincoln Highway Man" many years ago when I called him up to give a presentation for the Heritage Area. I then helped him with his research on Gail Hogue in Ely. He spent a great deal of time volunteering with his endless research and for that we will always have his presence. The crazy guy even went to the University of Michigan to look at their archives. Not too many people are that dedicated but Rollin was larger than life in our community and will be greatly missed.

Rollin Southwell at the Fisher Pass monument.

April 4, 2013

Kim Robb

April 3, 2013

My heart is heavy in hearing that Rollin has passed on. He was a wonderful man with so many stories to share. He had Thanksgiving with our family and my in-laws were so facinated by his stories and knowledge of the area. He was so instrumental in the process of getting a committee for the Lyman, Huntley, Henry Museum. I will miss his humor and stories when he would come to town and stop to visit me at the Village Office here in Lyman. Rest well my friend and put in a good word for me.

Vicki Kler

April 1, 2013

I was saddened to hear of Mr Southwells passing. We were his neighbors here in Wyoming on the old Shubert place. As non natives I always enjoyed his stories of the area when it was homesteaded. He will be greatly missed and I will always have fond memories of him. Our condolences to his family. Kind regards, Eric and Vicki Kler Huntley, Wy

Dennis Crawford

April 1, 2013

Mr Southwell was a great educator and a great example to me. He made the difference in my life that and will be missed. He was the best teacher.

April 1, 2013

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

April 1, 2013

Liz- I was so sad to hear of your loss. I saw your dad not long ago and as always, he flirted and laughed. I will miss him walking by the laundry on his way to Cucinas always stopping to say hi. I am hopeful that his spirit lives on heading down the Lincoln Highway. Sue Szugye

Kristen Cisneros

April 1, 2013

I am friends with Liz. Imagine our surprise when we took a road trip with my uncle Scott and found out Rollin was Scott's high school shop teacher. Scott had fond memories of Mr. Southwell smashing his cigarettes in the back of Highland High school. Scott used to say that he switched to box cigarettes because of Mr. Southwell. I'm sure Scott is now hiding his cigarettes from Mr. Southwell now that they are together again.
To Liz, Marie and Robert know that my thoughts are with you. It is terrible to lose a parent when you feel like you are still a child, and we never grow up right? There will be times when you can't bear the loss and other times when you will be all right. You will miss him always, but it gets easier. I love you guys!

Brad Smith

March 31, 2013

Rollie and I have been friends for many years starting in 1974 when I taught in the wood shop at Highland High School across the hall from him. He would come and use the wood shop and I would go over and make things of Metal. Several years later when he struggled with his legs, I talked him into applying to teach math because you could sit down and teach. He enjoyed that very much and often came to see the easiest ways to teach math. We traveled together to several Math Conventions; Durango, Seatle, Boise and had a great time together. I loved the way that he could involve any student by stringing them along with "TALL TALES" at which he was a master. We visited his house trailer in skull valley, ate good food and rode motor cycles on his property. What a fun loving guy. He will truly be missed.

Stephen Ehninger

March 31, 2013

He was the best and he had a contigeous laugh that filled the room and every soul therein.

Reed Jensen

March 31, 2013

I'm so sorry to hear of Rollin's passing. He was my metal shop teacher at Highland High. Occasionally I would run into him in Salt Lake and followed his involvement with the Lincoln Highway. Only thorugh his help did I graduate from high school. I was one/half credit short needed for graduation and he allowed me to take an extra metal shop class to complete my requirements. I still use the skills he taught me today in my business. How he survived all of our shenanigans still amazes me. RIP brother, you need it.

Scott Thomas

March 31, 2013

He was my stagecrew teacher what a great guy.I think of him often and its been many years thats how good he was! Blessings be to all his family! I will allways be greatful for his guidance during a very difficult time in my life.I know he will rest in peace with God!

Tim Duffy

March 31, 2013

He lived around the corner and I would walk my dog by his house four or five times a day. He had a book on a chair on the front porch, "Jensen Utah. Where is it? . . ."I wished I had asked him why it was there.

Marty Robbins

March 30, 2013

I am very sad to hear of Rollin's passing. He was my teacher and friend at Highland High. We had a lot of fun together building trailers and spending time in Skull Valley. We will miss him.

March 30, 2013

I'm sorry to read about your loss. God is near to those who are broken at heart and he hears our sincere prayers. May you rely on him for comfort during this difficult time.

Robert Butcher

March 30, 2013

Rollin and I were classmates at Huntley High School. He was involved in setting up a 60th reunion in the summer of '14..he will be missed.

Margaret Vela

March 30, 2013

I am so sorry to learn of Rollin's passing. I met Rollin via Classmates.com then on FaceBook. His mother was my 1st grade school teacher way back in 1954-55. I attended Huntley schools from 1954 through 1962. I was so excited about talking to Rollin on Facebook, and I shared that with everybody I knew. I was so happy to finally meet Rollin in person July 2010 during the Huntley School Reunion. He had a brother with him, and he introduced me to him.
Rollin, may you rest in peace. Now you are with your mother. My thoughts and prayers are with his children.

Patrick Chidester

March 30, 2013

I had Mr. Southwell for metal shop at Highland and Math at SLCC. I also ran into him many times in Salt Lake. He was an excellent teacher and an pleaser to talk with.
Patrick Chidester

Dave and Phyllis Polster

March 30, 2013

We saw your dad just a few months ago at The Other Place. He looked happy and ready to take on the day. Our sincere condolences.

March 30, 2013

Dear Family,

I was a student of Mr. Southwell's for two years,at Highland High. He was fun and smart and made me want to be better. The first day of class of the second year, He wrote on the board "R. G. Southwell". He said, "Do any of you know what the R. G. stands for? Rough Grader!" That was said with a completely sober face. The new guys in the class were nervous until they learned how truly kind he was. I have great memories of this great man.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Sincerely,

Richard Horne

Rhea C. Diamond

March 30, 2013

I was so sorry to read of the passing of Rollin. He was a dear friend and colleague of my husband, Cornell Diamond, and replaced him in the woodshop at Highland High when he died in 1980. Please accept my condolences and know of my love and respect for him.

Shari Laukala

March 30, 2013

Dear Marie & Family,
What a wonderful man your father was, I never had the pleasure of meeting him but reading about his life put a smile on my face. Keep those memories close to your heart. We love you.

Bruce Barton

March 30, 2013

To The Southwell Family, I remember Rollin from Highland High School, he was my Teacher there. He was a great Teacher. So sorry to hear he passed away. Sympathys and Condolences to the Family. May you all be comforted. Sorry I wont be able to attend the Services live too far away.

Rollin at the dedication of the Fisher Pass Momument

Lorraine & Darl Clark

March 30, 2013

Rollin has been a dear friend since he came to Nevada in 2004 to work on the preservation of the Lincoln Highway. He founded the Eastern Nevada Chapter of the Lincoln Highway Association and organizaed the National Lincoln Highway Conference in Ely in 2005, celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the completion of the Final Stretch of the road in 1930. He oversaw the recreation and placement of the cement markers used to identify the Highway across Nevada from Wendover to Fernley. While traveling across US 50 with Rollin, he narrated the trip by pointing out all the stops along the Lincoln Highway. We will never travel any part of the Lincoln Highway without remembering Rollin. He was a true friend.

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