Homer D. Roy
November 15, 1938 ~ July 25, 2022
Homer Daniel Roy
November 15, 1938- July 25, 2022
Homer Daniel Roy of Springfield, VA, passed peacefully in his home on July 25th, 2022. Homer “Dan” is survived by his wife of 33 years Donna Roy, his former wife May Ellen Fink Roy and their daughters Constance Roy Falco (Cam), Melinda Roy Conklin-Cassem (Roger), grandsons Daniel Falco, Thomas Falco, Christian Conklin and granddaughter Morgan Conklin-Bowen, his sister Joy Strickland, brother-in-law Grant Strickland, nephew Rod Strickland, and niece Deena Dyson.
Homer “Dan” was born in Clifftop, WV and then moved to Gauley Bridge, West Virginia soon after which is where he resided until moving to Northern Virginia in 1960 to begin his teaching career at Whittier Intermediate School in Falls Church, Virginia. At the age of 12, he began working as a paperboy delivering the Charleston Gazette in the very wee hours of the morning in the West Virginia mountains or as he would lovingly say, “in the hills of West Virginia”. The very first thing he would do when he got his stack of papers was pull out the Sports Page to see how his beloved Red Sox had performed the night before. During his years at Gauley Bridge High School, he was very active with intramural basketball, being a team manager for the Varsity basketball team, being president of this Methodist Youth Group, working on the school yearbook The Gauneka as the Editor-in-Chief (a name that combined the three rivers he spent plenty of time on -- the New River, which meets the Gauley River and becomes the Kanawha River), being a proud Boy Scout of Troop 87, Student Council, Beta Club, Varsity Club and working at Kroger Grocery Store in high school which allowed him to be able to buy the family’s first car.
Homer “Dan” graduated from Gauley Bridge High School in 1956. He attended West Virginia Tech earning a degree in English Education in 1960. He received a master’s degree in Secondary School Administration from the University of Virginia in 1964. He also attended the College of William and Mary for additional coursework.
Homer “Dan” had a very full life with his family, many wonderful friends and some sweet dogs. He loved life and he believed in his favorite well-said motto “Keep it Simple”. He didn’t go anywhere without often making a part of someone’s day humorous and joyous. He never really met a stranger, but a new friend. Walking along we’d suddenly hear, “So, where are you from”? He still found delight when receiving a curious look from a “potential new friend” not knowing what to make of his happy comment or fun connection to anything they had displayed on their sweatshirt, ball cap or t-shirt. This happily never deterred him from reaching out to start a conversation or learn something he didn’t know. He was always willing to take a chance knowing he could receive a peculiar look, but it was always worth it after putting a smile on someone’s face. He seemed to “collect” new friends everywhere he went (banks, grocery stores, theme parks, oodles of Cracker Barrels, Canaan Valley Ski Resort and on numerous boardwalks at various beaches –especially Myrtle Beach.) Many of us have also kept 56 degrees Fahrenheit as our benchmark for his proclaimed “T-Shirt” weather.
Homer “Dan” held many “titles” during his very well-lived life. He was an excellent husband, father, grandfather (Papa), educator, 7th and 8th grade teacher of English & History, guidance counselor, guidance director, assistant principal, personnel administrator, athlete, runner, Jitterbug champion, Volksmarcher (he completed 1,345 Volksmarches), Braddock Road Youth Club soccer coach, comedian, body-surfer, putt-putter, swim team representative, swim team timer, superb provider, lover of all music (Elvis Presley especially), and poet for his many work friends, neighbors, family, and soccer players. He never shied away from writing and performing heartwarming “roasts” at birthday and retirement parties.
Homer “Dan”’s most enduring trait was often putting himself last so he could support family and friends and make others laugh and be cheerful. He always said what he wished for when his time came, was for people to perform a random act of kindness and make a donation to a food bank. This would make him very happy.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the fall, so we can come together to remember the unique life of Homer Daniel Roy.
November 15, 1938- July 25, 2022
Homer Daniel Roy of Springfield, VA, passed peacefully in his home on July 25th, 2022. Homer “Dan” is survived by his wife of 33 years Donna Roy, his former wife May Ellen Fink Roy and their daughters Constance Roy Falco (Cam), Melinda Roy Conklin-Cassem (Roger), grandsons Daniel Falco, Thomas Falco, Christian Conklin and granddaughter Morgan Conklin-Bowen, his sister Joy Strickland, brother-in-law Grant Strickland, nephew Rod Strickland, and niece Deena Dyson.
Homer “Dan” was born in Clifftop, WV and then moved to Gauley Bridge, West Virginia soon after which is where he resided until moving to Northern Virginia in 1960 to begin his teaching career at Whittier Intermediate School in Falls Church, Virginia. At the age of 12, he began working as a paperboy delivering the Charleston Gazette in the very wee hours of the morning in the West Virginia mountains or as he would lovingly say, “in the hills of West Virginia”. The very first thing he would do when he got his stack of papers was pull out the Sports Page to see how his beloved Red Sox had performed the night before. During his years at Gauley Bridge High School, he was very active with intramural basketball, being a team manager for the Varsity basketball team, being president of this Methodist Youth Group, working on the school yearbook The Gauneka as the Editor-in-Chief (a name that combined the three rivers he spent plenty of time on -- the New River, which meets the Gauley River and becomes the Kanawha River), being a proud Boy Scout of Troop 87, Student Council, Beta Club, Varsity Club and working at Kroger Grocery Store in high school which allowed him to be able to buy the family’s first car.
Homer “Dan” graduated from Gauley Bridge High School in 1956. He attended West Virginia Tech earning a degree in English Education in 1960. He received a master’s degree in Secondary School Administration from the University of Virginia in 1964. He also attended the College of William and Mary for additional coursework.
Homer “Dan” had a very full life with his family, many wonderful friends and some sweet dogs. He loved life and he believed in his favorite well-said motto “Keep it Simple”. He didn’t go anywhere without often making a part of someone’s day humorous and joyous. He never really met a stranger, but a new friend. Walking along we’d suddenly hear, “So, where are you from”? He still found delight when receiving a curious look from a “potential new friend” not knowing what to make of his happy comment or fun connection to anything they had displayed on their sweatshirt, ball cap or t-shirt. This happily never deterred him from reaching out to start a conversation or learn something he didn’t know. He was always willing to take a chance knowing he could receive a peculiar look, but it was always worth it after putting a smile on someone’s face. He seemed to “collect” new friends everywhere he went (banks, grocery stores, theme parks, oodles of Cracker Barrels, Canaan Valley Ski Resort and on numerous boardwalks at various beaches –especially Myrtle Beach.) Many of us have also kept 56 degrees Fahrenheit as our benchmark for his proclaimed “T-Shirt” weather.
Homer “Dan” held many “titles” during his very well-lived life. He was an excellent husband, father, grandfather (Papa), educator, 7th and 8th grade teacher of English & History, guidance counselor, guidance director, assistant principal, personnel administrator, athlete, runner, Jitterbug champion, Volksmarcher (he completed 1,345 Volksmarches), Braddock Road Youth Club soccer coach, comedian, body-surfer, putt-putter, swim team representative, swim team timer, superb provider, lover of all music (Elvis Presley especially), and poet for his many work friends, neighbors, family, and soccer players. He never shied away from writing and performing heartwarming “roasts” at birthday and retirement parties.
Homer “Dan”’s most enduring trait was often putting himself last so he could support family and friends and make others laugh and be cheerful. He always said what he wished for when his time came, was for people to perform a random act of kindness and make a donation to a food bank. This would make him very happy.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the fall, so we can come together to remember the unique life of Homer Daniel Roy.
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I will always remember my sweet brother for his handsomeness, kindness and humor. I was always “Danny Roy’s little sister”. I don’t think anyone knew my name, which was totally fine . It was an honor to be called that. Rest In Peace, my brother and friend.
A candle was lit for the decedent.
so many happy memories of our favorite neighbor. always with a story and a smile, always with a helping hand and always optimistic about our Red Sox- the Morse family
Dan was an important part of my life when I was adopting both my children. His support for me, YoHan, and SeMee was meaningful and made the homecoming experience so much more fun! Loved all the Volksmarches we went on as a team. Donna, you are in my thoughts daily. You and Dan were a fabulous team and I’m sure it is so hard to be missing your teammate. Love you both, Amy P.S. The picture will likely only make sense to a select few weirdos….. Dan was always game for fun!
I was sad but happy to run across the obituary of Mr. Roy, my 7th grade English teacher. And what a teacher! He would bounce into the room with his briefcase, jump up on his desk (yes, ON his desk) and proclaim “Never fear, Roy is here!” Talk about getting the attention of the class. And, he is responsible for my very first (and last) D on an English paper. Although crushed at the time, that turned out to be a seminal event in my education – good students don’t always deserve good grades. Goodbye Mr. Roy and so glad to see you helped many others in your ‘well-lived’ life. It fits with the man I knew.
I am so sorry to hear of Dan’s passing. I have so many memories of Dan I could not begin to recapture them here. Years of interaction with Dan in staffing elementary schools in FCPS was followed by time shared daily with Dan and Donna at HR in preparation for the now historic Y2K payroll transition. I can’t remember a time when Dan wasn’t smiling, didn’t have an aspirin rolled up in his pocket, (just in case) or wasn’t looking forward to lunch or a walking event! Thanksgiving Thursday at the Annandale Dinner was always a favorite! So many good memories of Dan and Donna, hand in hand, heading off for another weekend adventure! Dan lived life to the fullest, always looking at the bright side and helping others do the same. Rest In Peace my friend. Prayers to you Donna and all Dan’s family.