Retired US Air Force Msgt. Roland Joseph Audet Jr. of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died on January 1, 2016, in the Kempsville home that he was raised in, surrounded by his family: the love of his life, the light of his heart and his pillar of strength.
He was 70. Born in Norfolk, Virginia on July 13, 1945, he was the only child of Roland Joseph Audet Sr. and Nell Renn Audet, both now deceased. Growing up in Kempsville, Roland attended Community United Methodist Church and became an avid model airplane builder. He was a Civil Air Patrol Cadet before graduating from Princess Anne High School in 1963 and enlisting in the US Air Force the same year. He served his country honorably for 21 years as a crew chief, aircraft mechanic and technical instructor. He was a proud, patriotic Vietnam War veteran, even though complications from his exposure to Agent Orange would eventually cost his life.
While stationed in Tampa, Roland fell in love with Janet Sarah Tatterson, who was visiting from Akron, Ohio. They were married on July 7, 1967, at Akron Baptist Temple, after a whirlwind romance that lasted almost 49 years. Together, they lived on three continents, had two children and traveled the world. They were stationed at Clark AB in the Philippines as newlyweds, then Pease AFB in New Hampshire, Homestead AFB in Florida and Ramstein AB in Germany as a family of four. In 1985, Roland retired from the Air Force and they settled in Virginia Beach.
Roland worked in various fields after retirement and returned to school, earning his BA in Business Management from St. Leo’s College in 1992. In 1996 he began working for Trans World Airlines, combining his love of travel, knowledge of history and passion for aviation as a travel agent for TWA Getaway. He remained with TWA until the historic airline was sold; it would be his final career before becoming a full time “Grampa”. Roland continued building military models for pleasure and competition, and was a long-time member of the International Plastic Modeler’s Society, serving a term each as Vice President and President of the IPMS’s Virginia Beach chapter.
Roland’s motto, “I never promised you how we’d get there, I only promised you an adventure,” perfectly sums up his enjoy-the-journey approach to life.
He leaves behind those he enjoyed his journey most with: wife, Janet S. Audet, daughter Julia E. Audet, son Roland “Joey” J. Audet III and granddaughter Madison S. Audet.
The Audet family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Compassionate Care Home Hospice. Viewing was held January 13, 2016, at H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Laskin Road Chapel. Funeral services will be held Thursday January 14, 2016 at 10:00 am at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments 2002 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA., followed immediately by burial ceremony with full military honors at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk.
Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.
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