Roy "R.J." Springer

Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial, 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 1200 S. Davis Drive, Arlington. Visitation: Family and friends are invited to the funeral home Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m.

Memorials: In memoriam, donations to St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church are greatly appreciated.

Roy "R.J." was born July 29, 1929, in Hoisington, Kansas, and attended the elementary school in the area. After graduating from Hoisington High School in 1947, he joined the Navy for four years.

In 1951 he began studies at Kansas State University. In 1953 he married Mary Frances Doherty, and in 1957 graduated with a mechanical engineering degree.

The family moved to Fort Worth where R.J. worked at General Dynamics for three years, before moving to Denver, Colorado, to begin work at the Martin Marietta Co. The family made their home in the Littleton suburb where they became members of St. Mary's Catholic School and Church.

In 1964, R.J. moved his family to Arlington where he worked for Lockheed Martin until his retirement in 1995. The family became active at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church where their five children attended school and Mary Fran kept busy with her Music and Liturgy Ministry, while R.J. became an usher (hospitality minister).

He enjoyed his family, playing golf, mowing the lawn, meeting his breakfast buddies and checking on his farm acres in Kansas.

He was preceded in death by his son, Kurt; his mother and father; four brothers; and one sister.

Survivors: In addition to his wife of 61 years, Mary Fran, R.J. is survived by four children, Laurel Mayo (Don), Gregory, Bret (Cheryl) and Scott (Lisa); grandchildren, Aaron, Colin, Zachary, Jennifer and Mary Ann; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends.