RICHMOND - Robert Duane Roland, age 86, died peacefully on Thursday August 28, 2025. Duane, as most people knew him, was born in Richmond, IN on December 13, 1938 to Horace Earl Roland and Chassie Rose Smith Roland. Duane married Judith Ann Riggleman in February 1959, and they were married 58 years before Judy's death in 2017.
After graduating in 1957 from Richmond High School, where he was on the two-time-state-championship football team, Duane enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Frankfort, Germany as a water supply specialist. Following his military service, he attended Tri-State College in Angola, IN, where he obtained a degree in Civil Engineering in 1964. After working for McDonald Douglas in St. Louis, MO, he returned to Richmond to work for AVCO as a research and development engineer. While employed at AVCO, Duane was awarded several patents for original designs of fusing devices.
When AVCO closed its Richmond facility, he began working for Oberle & Associates construction firm and, during his nine-year tenure he became the company's vice president and worked to obtain his professional engineering license. In 1983 Duane founded Whitewater Construction. His firm went on to design and build a sizeable number of commercial buildings, including restaurants, churches, shopping centers, banks and more, in the Richmond area. After owning and managing the company for almost 20 years, Duane retired from work and moved with his wife to Houston, TX.

Left to cherish his memory are his sons Brett (Cathy) Roland of Richmond, IN; Brian Roland of Chicago, IL; and Eric Roland of Brooklyn, NY; 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; and his companion for the past few years Bette Davenport. He is preceded in death by his wife Judy Ann Roland and brother Doug Roland.

Visitation services for Duane will be held from 5-7pm on Tuesday September 2, 2025 at Riggle-Waltermann Mortuary. Funeral Services will be held at 10am on Wednesday September 3, 2025 at Riggle-Waltermann Mortuary. Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery in Centerville, IN.