Earl Leroy "Roy" Webb, son of Dr. Roy Owen (1899-1961) and Helen Doty (Boss) (1905-1998) Webb, was born 10 April 1934, Michigan City, LaPorte County, Indiana. Roy's father was a practicing physician in the Okemos and Lansing, Michigan area for a number of years during the 1940's and 1950's. Dr. Owen, a 1933 graduate of Indiana State University, was also a World War I and World War II veteran.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 09 October 1942
Dr. Roy Webb, who holds the rank of captain in the United States army at Fort Custer returned to Michigan the last of September from a three months' specialized training at the Mayo Brothers clinic. He studied the newest types of anesthetics and their administration. Captain Webb has been a practicing physician in Okemos for a number of years before entering the army in May. He was also a member of the A.E.F. in 1918.
Roy graduated in 1952 from Okemos High School. In 1951 he was one of 4 boys who represented Okemos school at Wolverine Boys State. At graduation Roy received the Danforth Award. Furthering his education, Roy graduated from the University of Idaho with a teaching degree. There he met and married Elizabeth "Betty" Fitch, 18 April 1954, Moscow, Latah County, Idaho.
Roy's parents moved to the Helena, Lewis & Clark County, Montana area in the late 1950's. Dr. Webb became a physician at the Veteran's Administration Hospital, Fort Harrison, Lewis & Clark County. It was there he succumbed to a stroke. Dr. Webb and wife were interred Sunset Memorial Gardens, Helena.
Roy was listed as a resident of Washington state at the time of his father's passing. He and wife, Betty, continued to live in the great Northwest, raising 3 children and enjoying 62 years of marriage. Roy died 11 January 2017, White Salmon, Klickitat County, Washington.
The Enterprise (White Salmon, Washington)
Earl Leroy (Roy) Webb was born in Michigan City, Ind., on April 10, 1934, in his maternal grandparents’ home.
He graduated from Okemos High School, near Lansing, Mich. Soon after graduating, Roy’s father took time off from his medical practice to bring Roy west in hopes of finding a climate in which Roy could find relief from his lifelong, severe asthma. Roy settled in Moscow, Idaho, and attended the University of Idaho for his teaching degree.
He got acquainted with his wife Betty due to his friendship with Betty’s brother, also going to the University of Idaho. As a young married couple seeking for soul peace, and after many disappointments in the organized religions, Roy and Betty heeded an invitation to hear the gospel shared by ministers who gave their lives to preach the gospel story.
Roy and Betty recognized the sameness of what they were seeing, and what they had read in the scriptures of Jesus teachings, and embraced it. This choice enriched the rest of their lives.
Although they never had much of this world’s goods, they felt very rich with peace and joy in knowing and sharing in the world-wide family fellowship that gave them solidity in a changing world.
Roy taught primarily high school math for 25 years in Washington schools, and two years in Idaho schools. He worked summers in wheat harvest during the last several years of teaching, and continued to fill in for school needs after retiring from teaching at Kahlotus High School.
He also worked for the town of Kahlotus as their maintenance man, served many years on the volunteer fire department for the community, helped farmers with weed control along their fences, and was handyman to building contractors of the area.
In 2010, they moved to White Salmon to be with family.
In just over six years Roy touched many other lives with his unforgettable grace and sincerity in the White Salmon and surrounding areas.
Roy passed away at home Jan. 11 with wife and children at his side.
Roy is survived by his wife Betty, children Tim and wife Audrey Webb, Rebekah and husband Glenn Groeneveld, and Sarah Webb; nine grandchildren, 11 great- grandchildren; an older brother, Bob Webb of Columbus, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a younger brother, Chuck Webb.
Roy was grandpa and uncle to many others whom he equally endeared as “precious,” counting them too, as his own.
There will be a memorial service for Roy on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, at 2 p.m. in the Hood River Valley Adult Center, 2010 Sterling Place, Hood River.