Roy Barclay

Barclay, Roy

Roy Barclay of Centerville passed away peacefully at Hospice of Dayton on Aug 11, 2025. Born Oct 1, 1946 to Mary Rose and Raymond Barclay, Roy grew up in Zanesville, OH, the 3rd of four children. After graduating from Zanesville High School, he went on to study education and the teaching of mathematics at Ohio University. His teaching career took him to Tipp City, Ohio where he met a fellow teacher, Margaret Klopfer, while sitting in the library between classes. This woman with "the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen" would become the love of his life--marrying in 1971 and moving to Centerville where, for the next 30 years, they would both teach in the Centerville School System and raise their only child. Roy was a fixture in Centerville High School--not only teaching generations of math student but also keeping the score clock for CHS sports, coaching CHS freshman and, later, varsity baseball squads. Throughout his life he enjoyed the outdoors--running, skiing, hiking, biking, watching baseball games and tending to his yard and garden. After retiring from teaching in 2000 Roy found his ideal retirement job working on the grounds crew for the newly minted Dayton Dragons. For the next 23 years he would combine his love for baseball and yard work at Dragons games--always with a smile and a kind word to the players, managers and baseball fans. Together with Margaret, Roy was an active member of his community as a member of Southminster Presbyterian Church as well as the Centerville Noon Optimist Club. Roy is preceeded in death by his wife, Margaret, and his sister, Martha Johnson and is survived by his brothers, Irving Barclay (Columbus, OH,) Joe Barclay (Zanesville, OH) his son, James Barclay, daughter in law, Dina DiCostanzo, and granddaughter, Annabelle Barclay, all of Chicago, IL. Roy Barclay leaves a legacy of compassion, kindness and hope for future generations. A celebration of Roy's life will be held Friday August 29th at 1pm at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Centerville. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Centerville Noon Optimist Club or a similar organization that is dedicated to the support of young people in your community.