Memorial
Oliver Clint (“O.C.”) Roby, 94, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully Sunday, January 31, 2016 at Cottage Grove Place. Funeral Service: 10:00 am Friday, February 5, 2016 at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. A visitation will be held from 5-6:30 pm Thursday, February 4, 2016. A private family funeral burial with military honors: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Oliver was born February 9, 1921, the son of Loy and Nona (Casey) Roby in Billings, Montana. He enlisted in the United States Army at the age of nineteen. Oliver enjoyed sharing with his family that the army offered him the opportunity to “sleep in” compared to his life at home. He landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day +1, and fought his way across France and Germany where he was in charge of forty enlisted soldiers. During this offensive, he would be awarded a Purple Heart, during his time in Europe, he met and married Paulette Fontaine from Fecamp, France, together they would have four sons.
Throughout his career, he would be stationed in several bases, both in Europe and the United States, including a year in Iran. He retired from the Army with the rank of Major. Oliver served from 1940 to 1964. After his retirement, he and his family moved to Cedar Rapids, where he would begin his second career at Rockwell Collins. In 1982, Oliver retired having had several supervising positions.
He was a long time resident of Cottage Grove Place where he enjoyed playing pool, breakfast with the guys, and the friendship of his lovely companion, Tatiana Campbell.
Survivors include his four sons, Patrick (Claudette) Roby of Cedar Rapids, Edward (Marina) Roby of Singer Island, FL; Robert (Lu Ann) Roby of Hiawatha, William (Laurie) of Stuart, FL; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his two wives, Paulette (Fontaine) Roby and Zora (Shanklin) Roby, his parents; two sisters, Mary and Donna; and two grandchildren, Daniel Roby and Krissi Roby.
Memorials may be directed to the VFW #788 in Oliver’s memory.
O.C. Roby will be remembered with love as Patriarch, a man of true principle, a war hero, a superb role model, and patriot. Those of us who had the privilege of having him in our lives are better for knowing and loving him. He will be forever remembered and deeply missed.
The family wants to convey their deepest thanks to everyone at Cottage Grove Place who cared for him with great kindness and respect in the final year of his life.