COLUMBUS
Rolland E. “Ron” Isom, 83, passed from this life at 2:03 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at Silver Oaks Health Campus in Columbus. He was a devoted husband, father and friend to many.
Rolland was born July 19, 1932, in Indianapolis to Earl and Agnes Robinson Isom.
He graduated from Washington High School in Indianapolis. He married Lala Jean Byrd in Greenwood on April 21, 1976.
Rolland served in the U.S. Marines Corps during the Korean War and attained the rank of sergeant.
He was a master electrician for many years and employed by ERMCO Inc. He worked on large projects including Market Square Arena and the Commons Mall.
Later, he and his wife, Lala, owned and operated Isom Enterprises, which had Kentucky Fried Chicken Stores in Brownsburg and Danville.
Rolland was a talented golfer. He spent countless hours on the golf course and played in semiprofessional tournaments, including the Senior PGA Comfort Classic at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course.
He was a talented marksman and a rarely challenged skeet shooter. Rolland was an avid Western fan and had seen every John Wayne movie multiple times.
He was a talented craftsman and woodworker and built wonderful gifts for his family, including pool tables, toy chests and desks. Rolland was a member of the American Legion, the VFW and the Elks Club. He attended First Presbyterian Church.
Ron is survived by his daughter, Rena Pierson (husband, Danny) of Indianapolis; his son, Michael (wife, Denise) of Monrovia; and his stepdaughter Janeen M. Sprague (husband, Richard) of Columbus; and stepdaughter in law, Ginny Byrd.
He also is survived by grandchildren, Joshua Pierson of Indianapolis, Annie Hult (husband, David) of Indianapolis, Christina Isom of Indianapolis, Nicholas Sprague of Columbus, Jonathan E. Byrd II (wife, Abigail) of Greenwood, David Byrd (wife, Jewel) of Litchfield Park; and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two sisters; his granddaughter, Annalisha Keller; and a stepson, Jonathan E. Byrd.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. today at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home, 4205 Jonathan Moore Pike in Columbus, with the Rev. Dennis Aud officiating. Family and friends may call from 9:30 a.m. to time of service today at the funeral home. A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. today at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood, with military honors presented by the Greenwood-Whiteland Honor Guard.
Following the graveside service, family and friends are invited for a gathering at the Hilton Garden Inn at Interstate 65 and U.S. 31 in Edinburgh.Â
Online condolences and special memories may be sent to the Isom family at barkesweaverglick.com.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
