Eagle Mills- Leroy M. “Roy” Roden, 79, a lifelong resident of Eagle Mills, died peacefully Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, following a short illness.
Born in Troy, March 31, 1937, Roy was the son of the late Chester J. and Mabel (Knapp) Roden and for 35 years the husband of the late Zona (Zink) Roden who predeceased him. After meeting in California during their enlistments in the U.S. Air Force, Roy and Zona were married on July 19, 1958.
Roy attended the Eagle Mills District 3 one room school and was a graduate of Troy High School.
On August 19, 1955, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served both at home and abroad during the later stages of the Korean Conflict. While serving out his tour of duty in California, he met the love his life, Zona Zink whom he later married. Roy was honorably discharged on August 18, 1959.
Upon his return home, he worked on the family farm for a short time before taking a position as a lineman with the AT&T. Over the next 35 years Roy “guided the company through it’s many buy outs and name changes” working under several tradenames, including; NY-TEL, NYNEX and finally Bell Atlantic. He retired in 1999.
Roy was a lifelong member of the Brunswick Presbyterian Church. He had a kind and gentle spirit. Roy enjoyed watching birds and wildlife from his back window. He was a simple man, and what he missed the most was “A good car ride with Zona, with the convertible top down in the summer sunshine.”
Roy is survived by his children, Renee and Peter Korkemaz of Troy, and Deborah and John Fitch, and Pam and William Naylor all of Eagle Mills, a brother and two sisters-in-law, Leonard and Janet Roden and Marjorie Roden, all of Eagle Mills, an “amazing friend and caregiver,” Andrew Hanerfeld of Pittstown, four beloved grandchildren, Luke, Matthew, Chelsea, and Dakota, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents and wife, Roy was predeceased by several brothers and sisters, the late Lee and Mary Roden, Carolyn and David Stevens, Willard and Dorothy Roden and John Roden.
A memorial service for Roy will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at 3:00 P.M. at the Brunswick Presbyterian Church with Rev. Elizabeth Chen-O’Connor officiating. A light fare reception and time to visit will follow in the Church fellowship hall. Burial with military honors will be held later this Spring in Brookside Cemetery in Eagle Mils at a date and time convenient to the family.
Memorial contributions if desired, may be made to the Brunswick Presbyterian Church, 42 White Church Lane, Troy, NY 12180 in memory of Leroy M. “Roy” Roden.
Funeral service details are under the direction of the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 New York Route 7, located in Raymertown.
Born in Troy, March 31, 1937, Roy was the son of the late Chester J. and Mabel (Knapp) Roden and for 35 years the husband of the late Zona (Zink) Roden who predeceased him. After meeting in California during their enlistments in the U.S. Air Force, Roy and Zona were married on July 19, 1958.
Roy attended the Eagle Mills District 3 one room school and was a graduate of Troy High School.
On August 19, 1955, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served both at home and abroad during the later stages of the Korean Conflict. While serving out his tour of duty in California, he met the love his life, Zona Zink whom he later married. Roy was honorably discharged on August 18, 1959.
Upon his return home, he worked on the family farm for a short time before taking a position as a lineman with the AT&T. Over the next 35 years Roy “guided the company through it’s many buy outs and name changes” working under several tradenames, including; NY-TEL, NYNEX and finally Bell Atlantic. He retired in 1999.
Roy was a lifelong member of the Brunswick Presbyterian Church. He had a kind and gentle spirit. Roy enjoyed watching birds and wildlife from his back window. He was a simple man, and what he missed the most was “A good car ride with Zona, with the convertible top down in the summer sunshine.”
Roy is survived by his children, Renee and Peter Korkemaz of Troy, and Deborah and John Fitch, and Pam and William Naylor all of Eagle Mills, a brother and two sisters-in-law, Leonard and Janet Roden and Marjorie Roden, all of Eagle Mills, an “amazing friend and caregiver,” Andrew Hanerfeld of Pittstown, four beloved grandchildren, Luke, Matthew, Chelsea, and Dakota, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents and wife, Roy was predeceased by several brothers and sisters, the late Lee and Mary Roden, Carolyn and David Stevens, Willard and Dorothy Roden and John Roden.
A memorial service for Roy will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at 3:00 P.M. at the Brunswick Presbyterian Church with Rev. Elizabeth Chen-O’Connor officiating. A light fare reception and time to visit will follow in the Church fellowship hall. Burial with military honors will be held later this Spring in Brookside Cemetery in Eagle Mils at a date and time convenient to the family.
Memorial contributions if desired, may be made to the Brunswick Presbyterian Church, 42 White Church Lane, Troy, NY 12180 in memory of Leroy M. “Roy” Roden.
Funeral service details are under the direction of the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 New York Route 7, located in Raymertown.
