Roland Carlton "Carl" DeHart, 81, passed away at Sovah Health in Martinsville, on Thursday, October 18, 2018.  He was born in Patrick County on July 4, 1937 and was the son of the late Ewell Lee and Brookie Etta Rakes DeHart.

He attended Spencer-Penn Elementary School and graduated from Drewry Mason High School Class of 1955.Carl was a member of the Virginia National Guard, where he served two years as a member of the 116 ^th Infantry Regiment, 29 ^th Division, and served four years in Korea as a Jet Mechanic for the U.S. Air Force. Carl often said that these were the years of which he was the proudest.

He retired as Chief Reference Librarian of the Blue Ridge Regional Library in 2002 after 27 years of service. He was known as a Mark Twain imitator, having portrayed his favorite literary icon over 400 times. He was known for often being dressed in a three-piece suit, and for his dry and wry sense of humor. Carl was know as Man-Made Encyclopedia and helped many children with their school assignments. He was a Founding Member of Playmakers Community Theatre, had been the manager of a finance company, credit manager for a furniture store, news director for a radio station, a furniture refinisher, a Founding Member of Crime Stoppers, a Founding Member of the Spencer-Penn Centre, and one of the "Jack Legs" that would do volunteer work there on Monday of each week.

Carl and Desmond Kendrick started the Martinsville Henry County Historical Society and Museum. Mr. DeHart was Archivist for the City of Martinsville. Though he collected a little bit of everything, he would say his favorite items to collect were books, record albums, stamps, and local history. Known as the Man About Books, he has said he was a heavy reader since the age of four, and had often said he would read 20 books a month. Carl's favorite quote was, "The intelligent man is not the man who knows everything, but knows where to look it up."

He is survived by his daughter Stephanie Poe and husband Bart of Bristol, VA, his grandson Max Poe of Bristol, VA, surrogate son Desmond Kendrick of Martinsville, and his brother, Warner DeHart of Hartsville, SC, and his son, Carl's nephew, Mike DeHart, and his daughter, Carl's niece, Shawn DeHart.

His Service of Remembrance will be held on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Roselawn Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be entered at www.roselawnchapelfuneralhome.com .