Roy Wendell Nix

Long-time Grand Terrace resident, Roy Nix Sr. passed away peacefully on March 18, 2024. Born at home on February 8, 1930, in Canadian County, Oklahoma, to Vernon and Maude Nix, he attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in Hinton, OK before graduating from Hinton High School in 1948.

Roy enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 and was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado as a Gunnery Instructor. While at Lowry, he joined the choir at First Baptist Church in Denver, where he met the love of his life, Patricia (Pat) Arthur. Roy and Pat married in 1952 and remained happily married for 66 years, until her death in 2018.

After his military service, Roy joined General Electric Aerospace Division in 1957, where he played a vital role in early Minutemen Missile launches at Vandenburg AFB. In 1967, he was transferred to Norton AFB, leading to the family's relocation to Grand Terrace, where they resided for 53 years.

Roy was an esteemed leader in the Grand Terrace community, known for his involvement in various organizations. He served as a Boy Scout Leader, Little League Coach, Girls Softball Coach, and PTA President, and continued his volunteer work in the Colton Joint Unified School District long after his children graduated. He served as the Chair of the Colton High School Scholarship Committee, as well as making himself a personal advocate for the Lion’s Clubs sight programs, ensuring that every child in the school district who needed eyeglasses was provided a voucher for screening and glasses. His dedication was honored with the "Volunteer of the Millennium Award" from Colton High School in 2000.

Additionally, Roy was on the committee that established Grand Terrace as a city and later served on the Grand Terrace City Council. He contributed to multiple other city and county commissions and was the last surviving charter member of the Grand Terrace Lions Club. His fundraising skills were legendary, benefiting numerous causes throughout the years. But while he was a selfless volunteer, aerospace engineer and community activist, his happiest place was to be on a golf course.

A devout member of the First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino, Roy served in various capacities, reflecting his deep faith and love for God.

Roy is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, his parents, and his 10 siblings. He is survived by his children, Deborah (Rick) Nix-Carlson, Roy (Zita) Nix Jr., Carolyn Kuenning, and Lindy (Steve) Ward, along with his 12 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

A Funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 1:00 PM in the Valley View Chapel at Montecito Cemetery in Colton, followed by a burial service and reception at the Grand Terrace Senior Center. Let us honor Roy's legacy of generosity, kindness, and selflessness as we bid him farewell, ensuring that his spirit continues to inspire us all.