Wayne "Chip" Boswell Rothery
Wayne “Chip” Boswell Rothery, 83, of McGaheysville, Virginia passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at his home, the Blue Ridge Ranch.
Chip was born on February 10, 1942 in Washington, DC. He was a son of the late Willard Allen and Lillian (Boswell) Rothery. He married his wife, Karen Baker Rothery, who survives, on December 17, 1961 in Arlington, Virginia.
He graduated from Randolph Macon Academy in Front Royal, Virginia for High School. He graduated from Stetson University in Deland, Florida, with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He served his country as a Captain in the US Army. He traveled all over Europe with his engineering corp, repairing roads and building bridges.
Chip owned and operated Rockingham Rent All, on South Main Street in Harrisonburg. They closed the business in 2012. He was president of the Region 3 American Rental Association in 1978. He held a commercial pilot's license since 1978 and flew Cessna and Experimental aircraft.
Chip was a Worshipful Master of the local Masonic Lodge, Rockingham Union Lodge #27. He also belonged to the ACCA Shrine Temple and was President of the Valley Shrine Club in 2004. He was a member of the American Legion in Dayton, Virginia. He was a charter member of the Harrisonburg-Massanutten Rotary Club since 1992. He and the Rotary club were able to donate a water pumper truck from Harrisonburg, named the “Cow”, to the City of Mazatlan in 2005.
Chip accomplished one of his dreams of being a successful business owner, having owned Rockingham Rent All for almost 40 years. He loved helping people, partly by offering them equipment that they only needed for one job, and also by being involved in many service organizations through the years. He belonged to the Jaycees, Kiwanis, and Rotary. He accomplished his second goal of living on a farm when he purchased the Blue Ridge Ranch in McGaheysville.
Chip was a devout Christian. He regularly attended Freedom Baptist Church on Pleasant Hill Road for the last several years. Previously he attended First Presbyterian Church on Court Square, where he also taught Sunday school.
Chip was a very special man, just ask anyone who knew him. He always said “There are no strangers, only friends I have not met yet”. He would talk to anyone who would listen. He loved to give life advice and offered many people a second chance to prove themselves.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother Willard Allen Rothery, II.
He is survived by his daughter Shelly (Mike) Rothery-Rickman of Windsor, CA.; grandson Kevin (Alissa Napier) Rickman; great grandsons Kamen Rickman, Nikolai Rickman; brother W. Christopher Rothery; brother in law Paul Crowley; nephews, W. Allen Rothery III, Peter (Jennifer) Rothery; nieces, Roxanne (Steve Spain) Rothery, Katie Rothery, Colleen (Bruce) Crowley Showalter; great nephews, Oliver Spain, Noah Rothery; great nieces, Lily Rose Spain, Valentina Rothery; cousins Frank (Donna) Rothery, Mike Rothery, Eric Rothery, Bob Boswell and Beverly (Boswell) Mohler.
Services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Shriner's Hospital, American Legion or Alzheimer's Association.
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson Funeral and Cremation Service in Bridgewater. On line condolences may be sent to the family at johnsonfs.com.
