William Eugene Roland, 59, of Austin, Texas, passed peacefully in his home on December 2, 2025, after an 11-month battle with cancer. He was born on June 27, 1966, in West Liberty, Kentucky, to parents William C. Roland, Jr., and Joan (Greene) Roland.

In June 1975, he and his family moved to Gatesville, Texas, where he lived until graduating from high school in 1984.

Growing up, William was very active in the Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a Vigil member of the Boy Scout honor society, the Order of the Arrow, and also a member of the OA dance team. During his summers, he served on staff at Camp Tahuaya, completed three treks at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, and later served one summer on staff there.

After graduation, William attended Texas A&M University in College Station for a few years, where he was a member of the A&M Corps of Cadets. He later moved to Austin, Texas, where he fell in love with the kitchen and found his life’s calling.

William did everything one could do with food—from tossing pizzas and working as a line cook, to manning sandwich lines and cash registers, managing orders and inventory, helping open restaurants, and writing menus for various eateries. He also worked in grocery retail. William had endless knowledge of and passion for food. He immersed himself in kitchens of every cuisine, watched every cooking show the Food Network had to offer, and read cookbooks purely for enjoyment. Food was his livelihood right up to the very end.

The only thing William loved more than the kitchen was his family. He took immense pride in his grandchildren, attending every birthday, school fundraiser, band event, and family gathering.

William was preceded in death by his mother, Joan Greene Roland, of Gatesville, Texas. He is survived by his daughter, Zoe Williams, and her husband, Samuel, and their children, Morgan, Hattie, and Oliver, all of Austin, Texas; his stepson, Taylor, and wife, Hannah, and their son, Owen, also of Austin; his sisters, Melissa McElhannon and husband Roger of Terrell, Texas, and Melinda Roland of Gatesville, Texas; his brother, Michael Roland of Gatesville, Texas; his father, William C. Roland, Jr., of Gatesville, Texas; two nieces, one nephew, two great-nieces, and two great-nephews.

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