Charles Roland Nuckols

Charles Roland Nuckols peacefully passed away on December 19, 2016 at Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, at 81. Born in Newport News, Virginia, Roland was the second youngest of five. Already following his father’s footsteps to work in the shipyard straight out of high school, his mother encouraged him to better himself by earning a college degree. Unable to afford college, he found a way to do so by enlisting in the United States Marine Corp where he became a decorated marksman and rifle coach at Parris Island and, later, Cherry Point. This allowed Roland to later earn a Bachelors degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in his mid-20s and, thereby, honor his mother’s wishes. Roland’s time in college also turned him into a lifelong and very loyal fan of Hokies football. After a decade into his federal career, he sought to experience more and opted to venture overseas to do what he could as a civilian during the Vietnam conflict. Working in Saigon, he fell in love with very sweet and beautiful woman who worked in the same office whom he had met at his own welcome party. Six months later, she would become his wife. Charles Roland Nuckols and Kim Nhung Do were wed on November 4, 1973 and would remain together until his passing. During the Fall of Saigon in 1975, he helped evacuate Kim and her family to the United States. The frenzy of the evacuation required that the family split up during the trip from Asia, and Roland was separated from Kim and his new family for nearly a month as he helped other refugees flee Vietnam. Finally reunited, Roland, Kim, and the Do family began a new chapter in their lives successfully assimilating to an entirely foreign country, the United States, which was still reeling from the Vietnam War. Most of the Do’s and their extended family still work and live in and around Northern Virginia to this day. On September 15, 1976, Roland and Kim had their one and only child who they named John David Nuckols. Just before their son reached the age of five, they decided to pursue more opportunities overseas and moved to Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines. What should have been a two-year stint progressed into 12 years and Roland was promoted to Deputy Director of Personnel for the largest U.S. Naval installation in the Pacific. From here, the Nuckols family was able to travel extensively throughout Asia and experience new cultures and enrich their son’s life. Here they also experienced the excitement of several coupe attempts, local national strikes, countless typhoons, floods, dozens of earthquakes, a jungle ant invasion, a wild chicken attack, and a super volcano. In 1992, with the close of Subic Bay, Roland retired after more than 34 years of federal service with the Department of Defense, and the family returned to Northern Virginia where they had maintained their home in Annandale since originally arriving from Vietnam. As he was always passionate about architecture and home improvement, in his retirement, he rebuilt their home as a gift to his wife. Roland then enjoyed his retirement years rekindling his love of VA Tech football, working to always improve their dream home, and ensuring that his family prospered. His family continues to live there and vow, as per Roland’s wishes, to always keep the home in their possession. The last of his siblings to pass, Roland leaves behind his wife, Kim, of 43 years, and their son, Johnny. One couldn’t ask for a more kind and loving husband nor wish for a more caring and wonderful father. He will be greatly missed and always remembered with fondness and love.