Eugene Roy Jr.

EUGENE 'GENE' H. ROY JR., 83 ROCKFORD - Eugene "Gene" H. Roy Jr., 83, of Rockford and Lake Whitewater, Wis., died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, in OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Born in Savannah, Ga., Nov. 28, 1925, the son of Eugene H. and Julia (Brogdon) Roy. In 1936, the family moved to Norfolk, Va., where Mr. Roy received his elementary education. He graduated in 1944 from the preparatory Episcopal High School of Virginia, Alexandria, Va. Upon graduation he entered the U.S. Navy V-12 program at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, serving as midshipman. He was honorably discharged in 1945, and entered Duke University, Durham, N.C., from which he graduated in 1947, with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. While at Duke, he joined Pi Kappa Phi Social Fraternity and was "tapped" for membership in the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. Returning to Norfolk upon graduation from Duke, he was employed by the Seaboard Airline Railroad, of which his father, before his death, served as vice president and chief mechanical officer. While residing in Norfolk, he was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard, as well as the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club; the Commissioned Officers Golf Club, Sewell's Point; and The Princess Ann Country Club, Virginia Beach, Va. Relocating with the Seaboard to Americus, Ga., he married the former Anne Calhoun McMath of Americus on July 1, 1950. In Americus, he was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church, serving as a vestryman and recorder of the vestry; Americus Rotary Club; Benevolent Brotherhood of Elks and Americus Country Club. During his residence in Americus he attended Georgia School of Technology, Atlanta, concentrating on postgraduate studies in electrical engineering and mathematics. Mr. Roy, his wife, and their son, Eugene III, moved to Rockford in March 1957, when Mr. Roy accepted a position with Sundstrand Aviation. He held a number of managerial positions at Sundstrand and prior to his retirement in 1988, he served as manager of professional recruitment for Sundstrand Corp. It should be noted that one of Mr. Roy's proudest achievements was being named by the Rockford Register Star newspaper in 1967 as "The Father of the Year" in Rockford. His qualifications for this award were submitted secretly by his son, Eugene, to the local newspaper. In particular, one line written by his son described his father perfectly: "He is a gentle man as well as a gentleman!" Until his health impairment, he was a member of the following: Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Rockford, serving several terms on the vestry and as recorder of the vestry, and chairman of the music committee, which purchased and had installed the Austin Pipe Organ which remains in use today; the Rockford Rotary Club; Cherry Valley - East Rockford Rotary Club; Belvidere, BPOE and later serving as the North Central Illinois District BPOE deputy grand exalted ruler; Navy Club of the United States, Ship No. 1, Rockford; The Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Roscoe, Lodge no. 75; Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club; The National Society Sons of the American Revolution; Sons of Confederate Veterans; Order of Stars and Bars; and was a member of several professional engineering societies. He with his wife were members of Ostende and Cotillion Clubs of Rockford. At his death he remained a member of St. Chad Episcopal Church, Loves Park, and the University Club of Rockford, of which he was a long standing member. Survived by wife of 59 years, Anne; son, Eugene Roy III of Lisle; nieces, Patricia Green and Meg DeVeau of Sarasota, Fla.; nephew Jack Green of Connecticut. Predeceased by parents; and sister. Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5, in St. Chad's Episcopal Church, 6425 N. Second St., Loves Park, with the Rev. KyungJa Oh, vicar, and dean of Rockford Episcopal Deanery, will officiate. Internment at a later date in Calhoun-Riley Private Family Cemetery, Calhoun County, Ga. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memoriam to Mayo Clinic Foundation, 200 First St., SW, Rochester, MN 55902 or OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, 5666 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61102. Arrangements by Olson Funeral and Cremation Services Ltd., 1001 Second Ave. To send a memory or private condolence visit olsonfh.com.