Mr. Roger Eugene Tolbert

Mr. Roger Eugene Tolbert, age 77 of Mt. Airy, passed away Thursday, August 20, 2015 at Central Continuing Care. Mr. Tolbert was born in Surry County on August 26, 1937 to Garfield and Emma Smith Tolbert. Mr. Tolbert had the honor of serving his country in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict aboard the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Columbus. He participated in task force and amphibious landing exercise and made good will visits to Swettenham and Penang in Malaya, Zambonga and Manilla in the Philippines, the Japanese ports of Yokosuka, Nagasaki and Sasebo, and Hong Kong. His 43,000 mile tour of duty took him twice across the International Date Line and once across the Equator, making him a member of the Order of the Golden Dragon and Shellbacks. He was the owner/operator of Roger E. Tolbert Construction. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Kathy H. and Russell Frye; a son Curtis "Buzzy" Hawks; grandchildren, Brandon Hawks and fiancée Nicole Franklin, Ashton H. Starnes and husband Ryan, Logan Hawks and fiancée Macy Johnson, and Madison Hawks; a great grandson, "Levi"; sisters and brothers-in-law, Nancy and Gene Ford, Margaret Arrington, Debbie Tolbert and fiancé Aaron Montgomery; brother and sisters-in-law, Freddy and Virginia Tolbert and Annie Bet Tolbert; several nieces and nephews and his loving church family. Mr. Tolbert was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Arlene Tucker Hawks Tolbert; brothers and a sister-in-law, Louis Tolbert, Wilbur Tolbert and Betty Tolbert and a brother-in-law, Johnny Arrington. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, August 23, 2015 at First Church of the Brethren by Gary Kniskern, Glenn Sage and Mike Hiatt. Burial will follow in Skyline Memory Gardens with military honors by VFW Memorial Honor Guard Pilot Mountain Post 9436 and Mt. Airy Post 2019. The family will receive friends Saturday night from 6:00 to 8:00 at Moody Funeral Home. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Central Continuing Care and Mountain Valley Hospice for their love and support.