Claude "Terry" Terence Rollen

Cmdr. Claude Terence “Terry” Rollen USN (Retired), 76, of Orange Park, Florida passed away peacefully on Friday, September 24, 2021. Terry was born to Grayson and Zaidee Rollen on May 5, 1945, and grew up in Selma, Alabama, where he graduated from Parrish High School. In 1963 he became a proud Auburn Tiger on an NROTC scholarship, where he earned a BS in Chemical Engineering and he met the love of his life Terry Ann, whom he married on December 21, 1968. Following graduation, he embarked on twenty years of service to his country in the US Navy, adding an MS in Computer Systems Management from the Naval Postgraduate School along the way. His distinguished military career included time as a P-3 squadron pilot, NARF JAX Maintenance Officer and test-pilot, special projects advisor in DC, and Naval attaché to McDonnell Douglas in Titusville, FL. After retiring from the Navy in 1987, the family returned to Orange Park and Terry worked an additional 13 years as an E-2 Program Manager for Northrup-Grumman in St. Augustine. A devout and dedicated member of Orange Park United Methodist Church for over 40 years, Terry shared his passion for biblical history by leading adult classes there for nearly 30 of those years. As a skilled craftsman and all-around-Mr.-Fixit, he donated his skills and countless hours improving the lives of others as a friend, as a neighbor, and as a volunteer for organizations such as The Clothes Closet, James Boys, and Habitat for Humanity – for which he served as President of the Clay County chapter for several years. Terry had a natural affinity for sports and played football and baseball in his youth, and later, volleyball, softball, tennis, and jogging. He loved to watch his Auburn Tigers play and to root for the Jags. But his greatest passion, aside from his family, was the pursuit of knowledge and understanding through books, magazines, and shows dedicated to science, history, religion, and philosophy. He will be remembered as man unwaveringly devoted to his wife, his sister, his children, and his grandchildren. A man who strove, with every action and word, to make the world a better, wiser, kinder place through humble persistence, a selfless sense of duty and service, and a dedication to applying reason and compassion to solve whatever problem presented itself. Terry was preceded in death by his father and mother, Grayson and Zaidee Rollen. He is survived by his wife of nearly 53 years, Terry Ann, son Scott and his wife Stephanie, daughter Suzanne, grandchildren Justin and Audrey, and sister Joyce. The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 7, 2021, from 10:30 – 11:00 am at Orange Park United Methodist Church, 2051 Park Ave., Orange Park, FL. The service will start at 11:00 am, led by Dr. Charles Lever, and be followed by a reception in the church’s Family Life Center. A private interment with full military honors will be held at the Jacksonville National Cemetery for the family. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the organizations that meant so much to Terry: Orange Park United Methodist Church James Boys 2105 Park Ave, Ste 19 Orange Park, FL 32073 Clay County Habitat for Humanity 1717 Blanding Blvd. Middleburg, FL 32068 https://clayhabitat.org/donate/ The Clothes Closet and Food Pantry P.O. Box 2892 Orange Park, FL 32067 https://www.ccfpop.org/donate