Roy Smith

The man. The myth. The legend. The kindest soul this world has ever known and the undefeated king of the big fish story. Roy William Larry Smith passed away on Thursday, August 4th, 2022, after being struck by lightning, teeing off on the 2nd hole at Antelope Valley Country Club. They later found his ball in the cup, or maybe not. We all know he liked to tell stories.
Roy came into this world much like he lived most of it, bald and with a smile on his face. On March 3rd, 1958 in Denver, CO, he was born to Orville Norman Smith and Georgia Francis Smith(Shockey). He was their 3rd child. Roy’s parents named him after his grandfather, Roy Stanton Smith, his uncle, William LE Smith, and his uncle, Lawrence Clifford Shockey. He attended John F. Kennedy High school and spent his life telling stories about how he had three letters on his letterman jacket. He was on the wrestling team, track team, and the football team. During his junior year at JFK, his football team won the Colorado state title and during his senior year, they fell just short as runner ups. Roy attended University of Northern Colorado before graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Roy left the Centennial State in 1982 to join Rockwell International’s Aerospace team in Lancaster, CA. He spent his entire career with the same company, although under a different name after a merger, The Boeing Company. Roy loved his company, but he loved those he worked with even more. His coworkers became his close friends and favorite victims of his never-ending dad jokes. He cherished the memories of the successes of all of the programs he worked on, but talked more about the program failures and the lessons that could be learned from them.
Roy loved to tell stories. And you could be sure half of every story was true, but you could never be quite sure which half. Roy loved steaks, taco salads with salsa, huevos rancheros or Denver omelets depending on the day, Canadian whiskey, The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, ice cream (any kind), and really… anything that was sweet, action movies, TV shows that mentioned a three lettered government agency, his dogs, his friends, and most of all… his Family. He lived his life always searching for the next good deal and the 6 cars on rotation in his driveway were always proof of this. He loved starting new projects, often before the last one was completed. His love for golf only grew throughout his life and it eventually became the only thing he talked about and planned around. Roy was famous at every wedding he attended for his expert rendition of the “Worm” although, he swore he would retire it after his daughter Alyssa’s wedding. But most importantly, Roy loved life. He woke up and went to bed with a smile on his face every day. He made everyone around him a better person. He always had open arms and an open door for anyone in need. He loved telling jokes that were often adult in nature so much they became known as “Roy Jokes”. He lived life trying to be a duck and letting the extra water roll off his back. And he always said the purpose of our time on this planet was to leave the world a better place than you found it. Roy William Larry Smith succeeded.
When Roy left this world for a golf course in heaven, he left behind his loving wife Michelle; sons Richie and his wife Shelley, Matthew and his wife Diana, Joshua and his wife Denise; and his daughter Alyssa and her husband Austin; his grandchildren Viviana, Mia, Christopher, Carter, Avenly, and Amelia; his brothers Donald and Johnnie; his sister Cindy; and his dog Master Apollo.
A funeral to honor his life is scheduled for Friday, September 2, 2022, at 9:45 am, at Riverside National Cemetery. 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518
Funeral Attire: Roy always wore a Tommy Bahama Hawaiian shirt every Friday. So lets do Friday casual, dress/golf shorts appropriate.
*Please arrive at Riverside National Cemetery no later than 9:15 am to ensure we can arrive at the gravesite at 9:45 am. Upon arrival, check in with the Representative from Riverside National Cemetery at entrance booth for instructions to get to the loading lanes located at the back of the cemetery. From there the cemetery staff, mortuary staff, and friends and family will drive together to designated shelter where the ceremony will take place. The family has requested to reserve seating for immediate family and the elderly.*