Rev. Ralph Lord Roy

The Reverend Ralph Lord Roy, age 91, of Southington, entered life eternal on February 3, 2020 at The Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain campus.

Pastor Roy was born in St. Albans, VT, raised in the nearby town of Swanton, son of Howard and Olive (Corliss) Roy. He was educated at Mt. Hermon School, Swarthmore College, Columbia University, and Union Theological Seminary. After his ordination as a United Methodist Minister, he served parishes in Harlem and Brooklyn, and, since 1970, in Connecticut. He was a pastor in Clinton, Milford, and Meriden, where he retired in 1994, and then in Thomaston, East Berlin, New Haven, Hartford, and New Canaan. He loved the pastoral ministry and his parishioners, and officiated at hundreds of baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals.

Early in his ministry he wrote three books, taught college courses in religion and philosophy, and was active in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1961 he was jailed as a Freedom Rider in Tallahassee, FL. The following year, while working with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he led a 'prayer pilgrimage' to Albany, GA, which resulted in the largest simultaneous incarceration of clergy in American history. He often spoke of his experiences and shared his memories of Dr. King at churches, schools, libraries, and clubs. In December 2002, he was arrested at the United Nations with a group protesting the approaching invasion of Iraq.

Articles by Reverend Roy were published in numerous periodicals, including a regular column for the past 20 years in the Record-Journal. His 'minute messages' were aired on WJMJ, WTIC, and other radio stations. While in Meriden (1979-1994), he had a weekly radio broadcast on WMMW and served for a decade as that city's police chaplain. In December, 2019 Rev. Roy was honored as Pastor Emeritus at The First United Methodist Church, Meriden, where he served for 15 years. He belonged to a variety of organizations over the years, among them Sons of Union Veterans, the French-Canadian Genealogical Society, and Calendar House, Southington's Senior Center. He had an insatiable curiosity, often spoke of his awe for "this mammoth, magnificent, and mysterious universe", traveled extensively in the United States and abroad, watched "Jeopardy" regularly (he tried out twice), was a student of different faiths and dedicated to ecumenism and social justice.

Pastor Roy is survived by his daughter, Joyce Roy, and her husband Raymond DePaola, of Enfield, NH, and a sister, Erma Parker, of South Daytona, FL, a special friend, Joan Bauder, and nine nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Margaret Finlay Roy, and three brothers, Wayne, Malcolm, and Howard, Jr.

Calling hours will be Friday, Feb. 7th from 4-7 p.m. at DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Southington. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 15th at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 159 East Main St., Meriden. Burial will be in Swanton, VT, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Memorial United Methodist Church, 23 Grand Avenue, Swanton, VT 05488; Grace United Methodist Church, 121 Pleasant Street, Southington, CT 06489; First United Methodist Church, 159 East Main Street, Meriden, Connecticut 06450.

For online condolences and directions please visit, www.dellavecchiafh.com