Richard Rollins Obituary

Durango resident Richard Scott Rollins died at his home Tuesday, June 10, 2014, after a six-year struggle with cancer. He was 65.

Known as "Dick" or "Doc," he was born to Richard Joe and Virginia Lee (Cassidy) Rollins on Sept. 25, 1948, in Albany, California. He graduated from Lakewood High School in 1966 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in forestry from Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 1970.

In 1980, Mr. Rollins earned a Master of Divinity in theology from the Western Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

On March 22, 1975, he married Sandra Barrick Rollins in Boulder. They had four children.

Mr. Rollins went on to become a pastor, counselor, mediator and college professor of history, theology, personal development and ancient Greek and Hebrew at Western Bible College in Denver. He also was a professional writer, musician, genealogist and award-winning photographer.

"He found joy through being a conference speaker and seminar leader, but his biggest impact was through one-on-one mentoring and discipleship," according to his family.

Mr. Rollins enjoyed outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, mountaineering, rock climbing and ice climbing.

"He was Christ-centered, playful at heart and rich in character," his daughter Christina Curato said.

Mr. Rollins is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sandra Barrick Rollins, of Durango; daughters Jessica Shiloh Rollins of Durango, Andrea Ariel Scherer of Farmington, Christina Rollins Curato of Pearland, Texas, and Sophia Rollins Ellis of Vancouver, Washington; brother, David Wood, of Quincy, California; and sisters Ann Marie Bricker of San Jose, California, and Pamela Wood Conner of Colorado Springs.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 14, 2014, at First Baptist Church of Durango, 332 East 11th St. A graveside service will take place at the Florida Cemetery near the intersection of County Roads 225 and 228, northeast of Elmore's Corner.

A celebration of life service will be held later in the summer.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Friends of Rehoboth Children's Village in South Africa. Visit www.rehoboth.org.za/donate-online to send online condolences.