Harold Fred Frederick Roby

Born April 14, 1919 in Keyser, WV, he was the eldest son of Mason Roby and Sadie Alt Roby. He was raised in Petersburg, WV and attended the local schools, graduating from Petersburg High School, class of 1936. He attended Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, WV and the West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, graduating in 1946. He taught in rural schools in Grant County, WV for three years.

He was a U. S. Navy veteran of two years serving as a gunnery instructor.

Fred retired from Continental Can Company, where he was a Quality Control Supervisor and Engineer in Orlando, FL, New York, NY, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA, Venezuela, South America, Mexico, Canada, Kuwait and Italy.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Orsola “Lina” Canzano Roby , daughters, Mary Ann Robinson (Thomas) of Orange City, FL and Janet Benton (Richard) of Longwood, FL; seven grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and a host of friends. He is the last surviving member of his immediate family, being preceded in death by brothers, Donald, Reginald and Steven, and his first wife of 24 years, Gertrude O’Brien Roby.

Fred was a great outdoorsman and loved hunting deer, squirrel and dove, but especially wild turkey. He also enjoyed fly fishing and tying his own flies. After he retired, he and Lina played golf as often as they could.

He was a loving husband and an amazing father, grandfather and great grandfather, and was a true earthly example of God’s unconditional love for all His children. He loved people and always wore a smile. He was known for what the family lovingly called “Fredisms” – quaint little sayings that he collected over the years, the best known being that something was “as worthless as a whistle on a plow!”

Visitation will be held at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home, 1295 Saxon Boulevard, Orange City, on January 10th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 26 Dogwood Trail, DeBary on January 11th at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, Winter Garden.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the American Family Association, PO Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS 38803 www.afa.net