From a longtime Elkton resident to a local builder and a devoted schoolteacher, we remember several Valley residents whose lives touched their families and communities.
By Eleanor Brooks | Rockingham County News
November 2, 2026
There is something special about a small community. Even as the years pass and familiar faces change, the lives of those who have called the Shenandoah Valley home remain part of its story.
They are our neighbors, teachers, tradesmen, church members, and friends. Their contributions may not always make headlines, but they are remembered by the families and communities who knew them.
This week, Rockingham County News remembers several area residents whose passing was recently announced by local funeral homes.
Ruby Emma Sipe, 92 — Elkton
Ruby Emma Sipe, a longtime Elkton resident, passed away on October 25, 2026, at the age of 92.
Born in Rockingham County in 1933, she was the daughter of George and Cora Hitt Smith.
Mrs. Sipe worked at Blue Bell/Wrangler before her retirement and was a longtime member of the Church of Solsburg.
Her interests included traveling and playing bingo, and she remained connected to her church community throughout much of her life.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald S. Sipe, and is survived by her son, Michael Sipe, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, November 6, at 2 p.m. at the Church of Solsburg, with Pastors Josh Shifflett and Clyde Plum officiating.
The full obituary and service information are available through Kyger Funeral Home.
Raymond Theodore Simmons, 86 — Harrisonburg
Raymond Theodore Simmons of Harrisonburg passed away on October 26, 2026, at the age of 86.
A native of Augusta County, Mr. Simmons spent his professional life working in construction. He operated Raymond Simmons Builders before retiring in 2009.
His work represented the skilled trades that have long helped build and maintain homes throughout the Shenandoah Valley.
In 1970, he married Brenda Gail Rosenbaum. The couple shared 52 years of marriage before her passing in November 2022.
Mr. Simmons is survived by his daughter, Teresa Johnson, two grandchildren, and several siblings.
A graveside service was held October 30 at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens, with Pastor Jim Kite officiating.
His full obituary is available through Kyger Funeral Home.
Barbara Sellers Roller, 94 — Mount Sidney
Barbara Sellers Roller, a lifelong Shenandoah Valley resident whose career included decades in education and volunteer service, passed away October 11, 2026, at the age of 94.
Born in Rockingham County, she attended McGaheysville High School and graduated as valedictorian at age 16.
She continued her education at Bridgewater College and other institutions, eventually earning a master’s degree from Madison College.
Mrs. Roller taught in several school systems before concluding her educational career at Keister Elementary School, where she retired in 1991.
Retirement did not end her service to others.
For more than 20 years, she volunteered at Rockingham Memorial Hospital’s cancer center, coordinating volunteers and assisting the center’s work.
She also participated in church disaster-relief efforts, traveling to help communities affected by natural disasters.
Mrs. Roller was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Willard Roller Sr., and is remembered by her surviving family, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held October 23.
Her full obituary is available through Kyger Funeral Home.
Every Life Is Part of Our Community’s History
A community’s history is not written only through elections, construction projects, or public events.
It is also found in the people who raise families, teach children, build homes, serve their churches, and offer their time to neighbors.
These contributions are often quiet, but their effects can last for generations.
At Rockingham County News, we believe those lives deserve recognition.
We extend our sympathies to the families and friends of those remembered here.
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