Royce Kerbow Jr.

Royce Kerbow, Jr. was born on Manhattan Island in New York City on Mar 27 1945 to Dottie-Jewel Clancy Kerbow and Royce Kerbow, Sr. His Father was a Merchant Marine during World War II and shipped out of New York. Dad helped organize the National Maritime Union and Royce was very proud of him as we all were. That is why his Mother moved from Cooper TX to New York to marry him.

Not to worry, Royce and the only sibling at that time, Sandra, made them get back to Texas as soon as possible knowing they would have other siblings who would make fun of them for being Yankees! When Royce was 4.5 Mom moved back to Cooper TX. And we were right! Royce and Sandra have been ribbed their whole lives by sisters Stacie, Dottie and Denise.

Royce contacted Polio when he was six years old but survived with very little side effects, due to the care our Mother took of him!

Royce did not graduate from high school by 1/8 of credit. He decided to go to college but U of H said no. However they decided to let him take the entrance exam to see how he would do. At that time, he made one of the 10 highest grades ever made on the entrance exams. He went to U of H! But not for long!! He then joined the National Guard and later entered the Army where he was honorably discharged after six months.

He worked at Kenlee’s gun store for a while and at B & L Arms for a while but decided he did not like working for someone else. He started his own business the Imperial Mongolian Embassy and Trade Mission. He started working SCA events and won the Lion of Atenvelt award due to his diligence into research of all things Mongolian. He later transitioned to Renaissance Festivals throughout the Country. He was the oldest member of the Colorado Renaissance Festival having started the first year it opened. He was the gunner who shot off the Cannon at the beginning of each day and the end of each day of fair and took great pride in setting off many a car alarm! Usually about five! However, when he was ill one day and the love of his life, Cindy Ridgway, shot it for him, she only set off three.

Three years later he started his business at the Texas Renaissance Festival where Royce started a lot of Rennie’s off with their first knife!

Cindy has been with Royce for 27 years and although they never married he loved her dearly as she did him. They traveled the country together for some time doing different festivals and had a great time making many people happy with sharp and pointed objects. They had an old bread truck converted into an RV named the Imperial Mongolian Land Ship. This was their home on wheels, had a bed, an oven, a fridge and air! What more could you want. These were very happy times for Royce and Cindy.

For many years Royce also hit the Gun Show Circuit which he referred to as the Fun Show. He was well known as the Renaissance man!

Royce was a wonderful man who never had a bad thing to say about anyone. He loved women one and all and treated them all the same, with dignity and respect never losing sight of the fact that Cindy was his true love.

One year Royce went to a New Year’s Eve party at JoJo’s house, one of his sister Sandra’s best friends. He talked to her friend’s Mother all night. The next day her Mother told Sandra that she had met people from all walks of life and from all over the world but had never met a finer gentleman than her brother.

Royce loved all aspects of history. He had a mind like a steel trap. He could remember details about every battle, every weapon, and every tactic on the planet.

Royce loved his sisters dearly. When the oldest sister, Sandra, would say to him “I’m your favorite sister, aren’t I”? He would say well, Sandra, you are my first sister! He referred to Denise as his baby sister and Dottie as the middle sister and talked about how much they called him to see how he was doing. He always loved hearing from his sisters.

He did not see his other Sister Stacie much, who was between Dottie and Denise in age, since she lives out of town.

Royce was a wonderful Uncle! One year he gave his nephew Ricky 12 and nieces Dottie 11, Jamie 10 and Renee 6 throwing stars!! I mean, how many uncles give their nieces throwing stars for Christmas? His sister’s, were not happy campers.

He also gave his nephew, Royce each a hatchet for Christmas one year. Royce promptly put the hatchet to good use and chopped down his Mothers favorite tree!

We know he gave his nephew Michael a machete, but Michael was very secretive about what he did with it.

He was also a Great Uncle. He loved his great nieces and nephews, Brianna, Matthew, John, Roman, Bryce, Hunter and Tara very much.

He was a loving, sensitive, kind and gentle man who enjoyed life and lived it to its fullest.

He was taken from us way to soon. The world is a lonelier place without him. He will be missed by all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February, 26, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. in The Chapel of Grand View Funeral Home.

Online memorial tributes may be placed at www.grandviewfunerals.com