Joseph Milton Roy

LEESBURG, FL -- Joseph Milton Roy, 78, died on March 7, 2012 in Leesburg, FL.

He was born on Feb. 11, 1934, a son of Raoul E. and Clarice (Gallant) Roy. He attended Rumford school and graduated in 1952.

He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War and worked in armament/gunnery. He served two years in Japan and two years stateside in Texas. While in Texas, he was a member of the Foster Air Force baseball team, where he was a pitcher.

In 1960, he cut a record at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and traveled throughout New England promoting the record.

He married Janice (Doyen) on Nov. 19, 1960 and together they raised four children. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 32 years, retiring in 1992 after 32 years of service. He was known in the Rumford/Mexico area as the "singing mailman." He often used his gift of music for local benefits.

At one time, he had a local radio show on WRUM in Rumford, where he sang songs and had sisters, cousins and local people entertain. Louise Elliot played the piano for him. Later on, he learned to play the guitar and sang in the St. Patrick Variety Show, sponsored by St. Athanasius & St. John Parish (now Holy Savior), the Madison Inn, Bethel Inn, Sudbury and Kawanhee inns and at Saddleback.

He loved baseball and was a Little League coach for many years. He loved to watch the Boston Red Sox on television and was a lifelong fan. He was an avid golfer. He loved to fish and hunt, and enjoyed gardening and woodworking. When he was younger, he made wooden toys for his siblings and they nicknamed him "Joe Spike." In his later years, he enjoyed summers in Maine on Cobbossocontee Stream in West Gardiner at his son's fishing camp.

He is survived by his wife Janice of 51 years; a son Russell A. Roy of Chester, NH; two daughters, Leslie D. (Roy) Heald of Scarborough and Kelly (Roy) Perry of Limerick; five grandchildren, Adam and Michael Cardinal, Clara and Katie Roy, and Jacob Perry; four sisters, Janine Duffy of Hendersonville, NC, Julie McInnis and Millie Schriener of Flat Rock, NC, and Annette King of Amherset, NH and Wildwood, FL; a brother, Billy Roy of Mexico and Tarpon Springs, FL; and several cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

He was predeceased by a son, Philip "Toby" Roy; his parents; and three brothers, Robert, Raymond and Eugene Roy.

He was a communicant of St. Paul's Parish in Leesburg, FL. A memorial mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on June 9 at Holy Savior Parish in Rumford.

Joseph Milton Roy Photo:

Joseph Milton Roy