Dr. John Michael “Mike” Rollins, passed away at the Lexington VA Medical Center in Lexington, Ky., in the loving company of his family on Nov. 14, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born Feb. 16, 1952, in Clarksburg, to loving parents, Alice Loretta Koebert Rollins and William “Bill” Nelson Rollins, Sr.
Mike was the sixth of twelve siblings, whom he loved dearly and talked about often, right up to the very end. He was never short on stories of his childhood adventures on the horse farm, football field, delivering newspapers, or getting into mischief.
Following a high school career as the star quarterback of Bridgeport High, Mike was selected for and attended the United States Air Force Academy. Upon graduation, he went to medical school at West Virginia University, forever a Mountaineer, where he met and married Rhonda Rodeheaver, and they had their first daughter, Megan. He began his military career as an OBGYN in the Air Force, with his final deployment at the Chief of Staff at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. During his military tenure, Mike was proud to have delivered his youngest daughter, Hannah, while stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. She is most certainly the apple of his eye.
After his discharge from the Air Force in 1988, Mike joined a private practice in Maysville Kentucky for one year. He then established an OBGYN practice, Holehouse & Rollins, with his partner and best friend, Dr. James Holehouse, where they were known for providing excellent and compassionate obstetric and gynecologic pre- and post-natal care to thousands of women and their babies over their years in business. It was never without fail that Mike would run into a mother and their children that he had delivered, no matter where he was.
Mike loved children and believed that all babies have the right to life. It was this passion and belief that led him to start New Beginnings, a non-profit ministry that provided prenatal care to unborn babies and their at-risk mothers, while also providing housing, case management, financial support, spiritual care, and so much more. Mike, Jim, and the Board of New Beginnings were instrumental in helping young, at-risk mothers, deliver safe, healthy babies and facilitate adoptions to loving families when mothers bravely chose this option.
Mike was also a proud founding member of Trinity Christian School, recently celebrating its 25th anniversary. Trinity remains a thriving private, Christian school, serving students in elementary through high school, with a robust academic curriculum that includes the arts, music, and athletics programming.
On top of being a skilled physician, leader, and advocate, Mike is an accomplished athlete, who never shied away from a competition. Anyone who knew him knows that he loved sports of all kinds, and played to win, even if it was a game of spoons with his family. He was an avid tennis player, runner, polo player. Just about any sport he played, he won! At the height of his health, Mike climbed Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in California. There is no doubt that whatever he set his mind to, he could do it. Up to the very end, Mike had dreams of snow skiing, parasailing, and galloping through the fields on horseback. Though his body may have failed him, his mind never gave up dreaming about all the things he loved to do.
Mike’s pride and joy were his three children, Megan, Hannah, and Ty; and his three grandchildren, Naomi, Evie, and River. Mike was a firm but loving father and grandfather who had high expectations for his children and challenged them to be the best they could be. He taught them to work hard, never give up, strive for excellence, always do the right thing, and selflessly care for others. He was always there to answer the phone (even in the operating room), always had the best advice, was calm in times of crisis, and never lacked for a timely (or untimely) dad joke.
Ultimately, Mike’s guiding light, his strength, and his courage came from his love of Jesus. He knew his shortcomings and knew that only by the grace of God was he able to “do all things.” He loved to read scripture, study the bible, watch sermons, and could often be found quoting scripture for comfort in difficult times. One of his favorite verses was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” His deep faith and love of Christ carried him through his most difficult years as he so courageously battled Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia.
Mike’s larger-than-life presence will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved him, but none more than his daughters, who will have a huge hole in their hearts from his absence on this earth. They find comfort in knowing he will be guiding their way from Heaven until he will one day welcome them with a giant hug and kiss. In addition to his children and grandchildren, he is survived by eight siblings located in West Virginia, Ohio, and Florida.
His family would like to thank the nurses, doctors, psychologists, pastors, occupational and physical therapists, caregivers, and volunteers who have so compassionately cared for Mike over these last years. Your care and concern for his wellbeing and quality of life means the world to us.
A memorial service will be held on Dec. 11, at 11 a.m. at the CMA Church of Morgantown, located at 308 Elmhurst St., Morgantown. Burial services will follow at West Virginia National Cemetery at 2 p.m., located at 42 Veterans Memorial Ln., Grafton.
