Rogelio R “Roy” Gomez, age 76, of Archbold, Ohio was received into his Heavenly home in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Sunset Village in Sylvania, Ohio due to complications of Parkinson’s disease caused by exposure to Agent Orange in the Vietnam War.
Roy was born on March 22, 1942 in Eagle Pass, Texas to Francisco and Cleofas (Ramon) Gomez as the second of twelve children. Along with his mother and other older siblings, Roy helped to raise his younger siblings due to their father’s death at a young age.
Roy was drafted into the US Army in 1968. He served in the Vietnam War as a Communications Specialist, also known as a Radio Telephone Operator in the 324th Signal Corps, SP4.
As an RTO, he was responsible for reporting conflicts or firefights to headquarters which would in turn provide support whether air or ground to units that were in conflict. Where the commander went, he went. Where you saw the commander, you saw the RTO right behind him. The RTO’s life expectancy was very short. However, Roy made it out of Vietnam safely with an Honorable Discharge and commendations to move on with his own personal journey.
Roy married the love of his life Rosel C Gomez on December 29, 1973 in Toledo, Ohio. He retired from LaChoy in Archbold, Ohio after 30 years of employment. Roy then worked at Sauder Woodworking in Archbold, Ohio. He retired from Sauder Woodworking after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Roy loved baseball, fishing and growing his flowers, especially roses. He continued to be active in the community, his church and with his family until the disease finally overtook him in the spring of 2018 requiring assistance.
Roy is a past member of Lewis Avenue Baptist Church in Toledo and a current member of Bethany Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Ohio. Roy was preceded in death by his wife Rosel in April of 2015 after 41 years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by his grandson AJ Simons, son-in-law Lee Springer, his parents, brothers Reynaldo, Francisco and Mariano Gomez and his sisters Lidia Anthes and Rosie Yant.
Roy is survived by his children and their families, David (Dawn) Gomez of Tarpon Springs, Florida; Mary Springer of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Susan (Tim) Rex of Swanton, Ohio; Larry (Wendy) Simons of Curtice, Ohio; and Debby (Ed) Boontjer of Palo Cedro, California. His ten surviving grandchildren are Megan Hernandez, Brittany Gomez, Hannah Gomez and Nick Gomez, Kiersten (Travis) Paimli, Roy (Michelle) Simons, Danielle Boontjer, Samantha (Jonathan) Perkins, Chase (Rachel) Boontjer and Tye Boontjer. Great grandchildren are Olivia Hernandez, Colton, Lily and Hunter Paimli, and Jared, Garrett and Shallyn Simons. He is also survived by his sisters Noelia Flores, Mary Serrato and Olga Salinas and brothers Richard, Robert and Rosendo Gomez. He will be missed by his family and friends so much more than words can possibly express!
Viewing will be Friday, November 16, 2018 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the Edgar-Grisier Funeral Home in Wauseon, Ohio. The funeral service will be Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 11:00am, also at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Wauseon Union Cemetery following the services.
The family would like to thank Sunset Village, Ashanti Hospice and its staff for their kindness and compassion in caring for our dad and grandfather during his time there. In lieu of flowers, donations in Roy’s memory made be made to Wounded Warriors Project; P.O. Box 758517; Topeka, KS 66675.