Roland Girard Messier

On November 5, 2025, Roland Girard Messier of Haymarket, Virginia, passed on to eternal life at the age of 91. Roland was born on October 14, 1934, in West Warwick, Rhode Island to Jeanette and Ovila Messier. He graduated from Saint James School in West Warwick, Rhode Island in 1951. Roland proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1952-1953 and in the United States Army from 1953-1972. He met the love of his life, Janet Clare Johannes, on a blind date in February 1955. The two were married five months later on July 16, 1955 at Saint Francis Xavier Church in Washington, DC. They were married for almost 69 wonderful years until Janet's passing on May 9, 2024. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, family, and service. The Army sent them to Alaska where they welcomed their first three children within three years. Michael, Carla, and Aaron. Roland was briefly deployed to Vietnam in the early 1960s, and later sent to Africa where they welcomed their fourth child, Lynette. In 1965 they were sent to Japan where they welcomed their fifth child, Janene, and their sixth child, Gary. They were reassigned to Vint Hill Farms, VA in 1968. In 1971, Roland was deployed for the second time to Vietnam until 1972. He retired from the United States Army as a Master Sergeant in 1972 and later completed a distinguished career within the federal government, retiring in 1995. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland in 1985 and later his Master of Science from Strayer University in 1996. A devoted Catholic, Roland was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and dedicated countless hours tending to the church and cemetery grounds. He was deeply devoted to the sanctity of life and spent many Saturday mornings praying the Rosary outside the local abortion clinic in Manassas. Roland is remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; a good and faithful servant whose life was guided by devotion, integrity, and care for others. He is survived by his brother, Arthur Messier, five of his six children: Michael Messier and his wife, Denise; Carla Scowcroft and her husband, John; Aaron Messier and his wife, Kathleen; Lynette Messier; and Gary Messier and his wife, Lynn. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren. Roland was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janet; his daughter, Janene; his granddaughter, Anita; and his great-granddaughter, Caeli. His legacy of unwavering faith, strength, and steadfast love will live on through the generations he leaves behind. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Viewing will be held on Wednesday, November 12th, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, 15000 Waterfall Rd, Haymarket, VA 20169, immediately followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico.

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Roland Girard Messier

November 5, 2025