Diane Roark

Susan Diane Roark passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026, in Abingdon, Virginia. Born on April 4, 1943, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, she spent her early years in Chattanooga, Tennessee, before moving to Abingdon in 1966.

A dedicated educator for forty years, Diane touched countless lives through her commitment to teaching and learning. After retiring from education, she continued her life of service as a receptionist for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Her academic foundation was formed at Hixon High School and Furman College, institutions that nurtured her lifelong love of knowledge and community.

Diane was known for her gentle spirit, her affection for bunnies, and her active membership in Abingdon Baptist Church, where her faith and kindness served as quiet pillars of strength for those around her.

She is lovingly remembered by her sons, Ernie Roark and his wife Lois, and Doug Roark and his wife Sabrina; her brother Mark Williams and his wife Debbie; her sister Janice Eckford and her husband John; her grandchildren William Roark and John Roark; her great-grandchild Corbin Sykes; her step-grandchildren Angelica Sykes and Ronnie Whittaker Thomas; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, William Melvin Roark, and her parents, John Edwin Williams and Georgia Lou Rawlston Williams.