Eguene H. Roy, Jr.

Eugene (Gene) H. Roy, Jr., 83, of Rockford, IL, and Lake Whitewater, WI, died Tuesday, September 29, 2009, in OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Roy was born in Savannah, GA November 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 United States Navy V-12 program at the University of Louisville, Louisville, KY serving as Midshipman. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and entered Duke University, Durham, NC 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, VA 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 Shepherd 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; the Americus Rotary Club; the Benevolent Brotherhood of Elks and the Americus Country Club. During his residence in Americus he attended Georgia School of Technology, Atlanta, GA 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 sered as Manager of Professional Recruitment for Sundstrand Corporation. 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; Belvedere, IL BPOE and later serving as the North Central Illinois District BPOE Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler; Navy Club of the United States, Ship #1, Rockford; The Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Roscoe, IL Lodge #75; Mauh Nah Tee See Country Club; The National Society Sons of the American Revolution; Sons of Confederate Veterans; the 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, IL and the University Club of Rockford of which he was a long standing member. Mr. Roy is survived by his wife of 59 years, Anne; his son, Eugene Roy III, of Lisle, IL; two nieces, Ms. Patricia Green and Ms. Meg DeVeau, Sarasota, FL; nephew Jack Green, CT. He was predeceased by his parents and sister. A Memorial Mass was celebrated at 10:30 AM Monday, October 5, 2009, in St. Chad's Episcopal Church, 6425 North 2nd Street, Loves park, IL. Officiating was The Reverend KyungJa Oh, Vicar, and Dean of the Rockford Episcopal Deanery. Interment will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at the Calhoun-Riley Private Family Cemetery, Calhoun County, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memoriam to Mayo Clinic Foundation, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN, 55902 or to OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, 5666 E. State Street, Rockford, IL 61102. Hancock Funeral Home, 427 South Lee Street, Americus, GA, is in charge of arrangements.