Theron James Royer

Theron James Royer, 82, of New Bern, NC, died peacefully in the Comfort Care Unit of CarolinaEast Medical Center on Sunday, February 23. He died of unrelated complications following a recent diagnosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Theron was born in the spring of 1942 in rural Pennsylvania and was the beloved only child of Charles Royer and Ruth Bly. He was raised in the small town of Watsontown and attended Susquehanna University and graduated as part of the Class of 1965.

Theron joined the Air Force right out of college and completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. After basic training, he volunteered to participate in a research project run by The USAF School of Aerospace Medicine which was designed to help astronauts in the space program.

In December of 1966, he married his college sweetheart and the love of his life, Bonnie DeBou who he met while student teaching in Pennsylvania (Bonnie was attending nearby Bucknell University). They later welcomed daughter Cathie and son Theron Jr. (“TJ”). Theron and Bonnie raised their family on Long Island, NY.

Theron spent his career as a Honors Earth Science teacher at Baldwin Harbor Junior High School. He retired from teaching in 1997 after 30 years of service in the New York public school system. He was also a proud member of the US Armed Forces and after his active duty, spent 24 years in the Air National Guard where he retired as a Colonel. He took pride in both of these aspects of his working life.

Theron and Bonnie relocated to New Bern, NC upon retirement and immediately fell in love with their adopted town. They were active members of Christ Church up until Theron’s death and Bonnie continues her involvement in that loving and supportive community. Both Theron and Bonnie support ministries of choice and both are known to be generous contributors to causes they hold dear. Theron was known for his kindness and quirky sense of humor. His response to anyone asking him, “How are you today?” was always “How could I be bad?”

Theron always loved to travel and explore new places. He enjoyed road trips and camping as a family, driving cross-country numerous times, and in his later years, fell in love with cruising. In 2002, he fulfilled his life-long dream of setting foot on Antarctica. By 2007, Theron and Bonnie had visited all seven continents together.

Theron was kind, generous, funny, and a beloved husband and father. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Bonnie Royer, as well as his daughter, Cathie Royer, 55, of Ogden, UT, and son, TJ Royer, 53, of San Diego, CA.

Words that sum up Theron’s life: Love, Laughter, Faith in God, and Hard Work.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 5, at Christ Episcopal Church, 320 Pollock Street, New Bern.

Gifts in lieu of flowers may be sent to these New Bern organizations: Interfaith Refugee Ministry at 1913 Trent Boulevard and/or MERCI Clinic at 1315 Tatum Drive. (Theron would want you to know that MERCI can always use postage stamps.)