James Roby

James “Alvin” Roby, 83, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, passed away Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at his residence.

He was born March 22, 1929 in DeGraff, Ohio, to the late Emmett R. and Edna M. (Strong) Roby.

Preceding him in death was his first wife, Ruth Bush Roby, whom he married December 26, 1951 in Bellefontaine and she passed away October 17, 1963; his second wife, Betty (Hill) Roby, whom he married June 18, 1966 in Oakwood, Ohio and she passed away February 16, 1999. Also preceding him in death were two infant sons, Mark A. and Kevin A. Roby, and two brothers, Willis A. and Norman E. Roby.

On October 27, 2001, he married Bernice L. (Shafer) Petty Roby and she survives. Also surviving are his children, Bruce A. (Mary) Roby of Eugene, Oregon, Brent A. (Kimberly) Roby of Bellefontaine and Beth A. Roby of Middletown, Connecticut; two sisters, Mary Roby of Bellefontaine and LaDema VanGundy of Wapakoneta, Ohio; a step-daughter, Barbara (Jerry) Culp of Bellefontaine, and step-grandchildren, Kim (Joe) Kirby, Tamara (Edward) VonStein, Kevin (Betsy) Culp, Greg (Susan) Culp, Kirsten (Neil) Fazzari and Peter (Yuko) Taylor.

After thirty four years of service, he retired in 1991 from Logan County Co-Op, where he worked as a ground man. Alvin was a United States Army Veteran, serving in the Korean War and was a member of the First Church of God in Bellefontaine. He enjoyed cooking for the Men’s Prayer Breakfast and Bus Ministry and also enjoyed gardening, planting Irises and feeding birds.

Calling hours are Friday, September 7, 2012, from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine. Pastor C.J. Plogger will officiate the 3:00 P.M. funeral service Saturday, September 8, 2012, at the First Church of God in Bellefontaine with one hour of visitation prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the Rushsylvania Cemetery in Rushsylvania, Ohio.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Universal Home Health Hospice 701 S. Main St. Bellefontaine, OH 43311 or Noah’s Ark 1000 E. Brown Ave. Bellefontaine, OH 43311

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