Violet Iris Rose Royer

Born November 21, 1910 at 6:10 A.M. at home in Los Angeles of Alfred (30) and Elizabeth (32) Pompey from the Arthurian West Country of England. She was the youngest of 5. Her parents, with the first-born William as an infant, came by ship and rail non-stop from England to L.A. in 1903. Uncle Bill, the Candy Man of Pasadena, died at 103.

She is older than RMS Titanic. In 1925 Edwin Hubble proved that the Andromeda Nebula is a distant galaxy outside our own giving us a new Universe. Does that make Mom older than the Universe? He also proved the expansion of the Universe, and in 1927 Msgr. Georges Lemaitre ran it backwards to the Big Bang. So Mom is older than the Big Bang theory!

EDUCATION: St. Thomas School on Pico Blvd to 8th grade, then driving her mom to Grand Central Market and other errands.

DANCING: As a teenager won many terpsichorean trophies. Participated in dancing events from Hollywood to Bakersfield. Was winner of first Marathon dance for 6 days and nights, stopped by police, hospitalized, woke up to a bouquet of roses from one Ed Royer.

MARRIAGE: to Edmund Howard Royer of New York, June 26, 1929. 3 children, Ronald, Carole, and Judith. Lasted till death of Ed, 12/12/1980. Carole and her husband Don Redmon are deceased.

MUSCLE BEACH: Birthplace of the 20th century physical fitness boom. During the Depression we were often at this beach. Mom worked out with the stunt men there, her favorite was Johnnie Collins. Look in old movie credits for him. Onlookers would take photos; we have many that they would bring back to us later.

WWII: Saw us move to the Harbor area, Dad worked at Ft. MacArthur, Mom as electrician on ships, even Russian Ice Breakers.

WAITRESS: At Helen Fosters in Santa Monica and at Bullocks Westwood. Big tips enabled Dad to own his own tile business, and we traveled a whole summer in Europe, 1956.

LEISURE WORLD, GOLF, and SWIM: The move from the apartment building in W.L.A that they owned took place in 1967. Mom dove right into golf and swimming again, it was all there. She was the women’s golf champion for 12 out of 15 years. Six holes in one, 4 eagles, and rarest of all, one double eagle! Now the house was filling with golf trophies along with the dancing ones.

In 1971 she joined the synchronized swim team call the Aquadettes and Dad became an Aquadude. They would practice all year coordinating music, costumes, props, and lighting to produce an extravaganza in August that still gets international reviews, even in the National Enquirer! Mom’s sewing skills were put to good use here. In June, 1992 Mom and some of the group went to Indianapolis for the IV world Masters Championships and carried away many medals, including the gold for Vi and the team. Then they did it again in October of that year in Ft. Lauderdale. And all this time she was lifeguard and swimming instructor at Leisure World, one of the oldest certified women guards in the U.S. She is credited with 8 rescues.

During her life Mom lived in 16 different homes, in L.A, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Lomita, Laguna Hills, Lakewood, and finally Springville, CA. in 2002. She has traveled much with Ron and Judy after dad’s death. She died June12, 2012 at which time Msgr.Ron started an autobiography to honor his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, his church and country and others who shaped his character to accomplish many things.

She had no grandchildren since her daughter Carol had no children, her daughter Judith became a Sister, and her son became a Father! But spiritual children many. And many nieces and nephews with their children. What a full life, thanks be to God!

Monsignor Ronald Royer

Please sign the guest book at www.luybenfamilyd-m.com

Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell Mortuary (562) 425-6401