Roy Allen Everitt, died on Sunday, August 22, 2021, only two days after turning 87, at Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care. He died after a short illness (not Covid) and after a long great life. He was the leader and provider for his family.
Roy was born in Scottsburg Indiana on August 20, 1934. He had a loving mother, Laura (Everitt) Boswell, who raised him well; as his father, Paul, died when Roy was only 3. As early as the age of 9, he was working as a pin setter at the bowling alley, helping the milk man, and had a paper route. When he was 15, he started working in his uncle’s gas station. He bought his first car, with cash, in high school. This was unheard of in the 1940’s. He was a large influence in not only his children but his grandchildren’s lives.
He started working at telephone companies like Kellogg, ITT, ITEC as a technician; then, engineer. He traveled the world to help bring telephone systems to parts of Africa, South America, Israel, Poland, India, and many more places. He did business on 5 of the 7 continents. He never made it to Australia and the penguins do not use telephones. He also helped put in communication for the Atlas missile system. During the Cuban missile crisis, he came home and gave his wife, Janell, instructions on where to go out of Chicago if any missiles were fired. He gave her money and he then disappeared to do his job for a few days till it blew over.
He had a long love affair with airplanes. He used to “hang on the airport fence” and help wash airplanes for rides. He ground looped a Piper Cub on his 15th birthday. He became a private pilot and loved his Cessna 172, N7105G. He and Janell went on several air tours. When he talked to his children on the phone, he would love to end the conversations ‘well we solved most of the world’s problems, but we should save some for next time.’
He was married 47 years to his wife, Janell Everitt. It is noted he loved her so much and felt he was a lucky man to have been found by her. He helped her raise 4 stepchildren, Randy, Jan, Debbie, and Mark. He has two sons from his first marriage, Keith and Paul. He has several grandchildren who he has provided support and guidance to help them in their adult careers.
Dad/Grandpa Roy will be missed.
