Roy Michael Zimmerman Sr.

1918 - 2018

Roy Michael Zimmerman, Sr.

Nashville - Died peacefully at McKendree Village on March 21, 2018 at the age of 99. He was born August 5, 1918, in Belvidere, TN, the youngest child of John and Annie Zimmerman and was the last member of his generation. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 72 years Frances Treadwell Zimmerman, and daughter-in-law, Janice Brady Zimmerman. Janice's mother, Charlene S. Brady, remains a loyal friend and family member, who phoned Roy every night to check on him.

He is survived by his sons, Dr. Carl W. Zimmerman (Elaine) of Nashville and Roy M. Zimmerman, Jr. (Jeanne) of Maplewood, MN; 7 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. He served in World War II in the 178TH Engineer Combat Battalion seeing action in Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was awarded The EAME Theater Ribbon with 4 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, and Victory Medal World War II. After his military service, he was employed by Anthony Pure Milk Company while making East Nashville home for many years. Subsequently, he became a Letter Carrier for the USPS until retirement. He was a welcoming fixture at the Madison library while serving as a poll worker for the Davidson County Election Commission for many years. He was an accomplished bowler (high game 288), golfer (7 holes-in-one), hiker, bridge player, and fisherman (biggest catch winning the Catfish Derby at Pickwick, 54 pounds). The prize for the Derby was a beautiful boat. However, much to his then teenaged sons chagrin, it was pink! He won his age group at the Komen Race for the Cure at age 91 as he was the only one that old in the race. An avid Vanderbilt fan in all sports, he attended his first Vanderbilt football game in 1939, and attended games every year until he became unable to do so. He was a long-term member of the Commodore Club. He listened to Vanderbilt games on the radio faithfully until days before his death. He was a loyal member of Dalewood United Methodist Church from 1952 until 2018. His sense of humor was wonderful. At his grandchildren's wedding receptions, he was fond of saying that the men should make the coffee as it was written in the Bible, Hebrews! The family agrees Granddad probably should not have laughed when Frances, his wife, fell in the cold lake at the Boundary Waters! Somehow, Grandmother never forgot it! To his last day, he was unfailingly optimistic and encouraged others to be positive. Roy was a wonderful husband, father, loyal friend to many, and role model. He would be very pleased that his pallbearers will be 6 of his 7 grandchildren: Dan Zimmerman, Ryan Zimmerman, Kenneth Zimmerman, Geoff Zimmerman, Michelle Miller, and Phil Zimmerman. The family will receive visitors at Hermitage Funeral Home, 535 Shute Lane, Hermitage, TN, Saturday, March 31st, beginning at 1:00 p.m. with a funeral service at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Dalewood United Methodist Church or the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America.