In Memory of Norman E. Roe, Sr.
RIP May 13, 2010
Norman Edward Roe of Brighton, Michigan passed away on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at the age of 84. Mr. Roe was born on January 12, 1926 in Elmira, New York. He was the second son of Leslie and Verona Roe. He is survived by Elizabeth, his beloved wife of sixty-one years and his children and their spouses: Pamela and Orville Arquette, Penelope and Brian Karaska, Polly and James Graves, and Norman and Sarah Roe. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren. Mr. Roe served as a Corporal in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He was assigned to the flight crews of the Waco CG-4A Glider, the Curtiss C-46D (The Commando) and the B24-D (The Liberator) as an airplane engineer and mechanic. He was a past member of the American Legion of Odessa, New York. He was a fifty year resident of Brighton and retired from Rochester Products after 18 years of service. Earlier in his work career he worked for the Pennsylvania railroad and owned his own service garage. Mr. Roe was a past member of the Brighton Kiwanis and served as their President in 1972. He was also a member of Chilson Hills Baptist Church.
Visiting hours are 4-8pm on Wednesday May 19 and 2-8pm on Thursday May 20th at Keehn Funeral Home in Brighton. The funeral service is at Chilson Hills Baptist Church on Friday May 21st at 11:00am.
Dear Friends & Family
Above is the obituary placed in the Brighton Argus and my Father's hometown newspaper the Star Gazette of Horseheads New York. Many of my friends and family knew my Dad to be a kind, honest and hard working man. As my father's namesake he was the person I admired most and our entire family will miss him dearly. Many will remember my Dad for his keen sense of humor and timing. My Dad overcame adversity in life as his Father died in the middle of the Great Depression while he was only 10 years old. At 17 years old he volunteered for the Army Air Corps. In later years my father was known as a brilliant mechanical mind and enjoyed a career in the heady days of the Auto Industry, at one time working at the GM Proving Grounds. As a family man my Father set out on great travel adventures, once taking our family on a trip to Alaska in a homemade camper up the Alaskan Highway (which at the time was un-paved). As kids we always had foreign exchange students living with us and those students had the experience of a lifetime. As they returned from their year in the States to countries like Brazil, Japan, Finland and other parts of the globe they all left our home learning one word perfectly--"DAD"! Never a touchy feely type person I would always hear affectionate stories from High School and college buddies about adventures with my Dad in his world famous garage. I always would see a good supply of guys I knew from school hanging out in my Fathers garage fixing the latest used car or even getting help to build a water-balloon launcher. In many ways my Dad was more fun and more popular then I was with my own friends and acquaintances in H.S. and College. Quirky, unique and fun my Dad was truly one of a kind.
Norm Roe, Jr.
Norm Roe, Jr. Information