Lemley, Lt. Col. Roy (Ret)

Lt. Col. Roy Lemley (Ret.), age 92, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. He was surrounded by his wife Joan and daughters, Lori and Leann, who loved him.

Roy is survived by his wife, Joan, his daughters, Linda Enright, Lori Reber, and Leann Bing (husband, Brian), his grandchildren Michelle Adams, John Adams, Kenny Adams, Patrick Enright, Brian Enright, Bethany Oliver, Preston Bing, Cheryl Reber, Joshua Bing, and Patrick Bing, and numerous well-loved great-grandchildren.  He was preceded by his siblings Earline Fielder, Franklin Lemley, Stella Holden, Eva Looney, Carl Rinehart, Cliff Lemley.  He has a slew of nieces, nephews, and so forth and so on.

Roy was born on October 1, 1931 in Carrollton, Mississippi to parents Clifford and Annie Mae Lemley. He grew up in small town Carrollton.  Roy always said he walked barefoot uphill both ways in the snow to school in Mississippi. Older sister, Stella, claims he was always carried.  He loved his family, driving, flying, and chocolate.

In 1949, Roy joined the U.S. Army Air Corp as private.  When the new U.S. Air Force asked for volunteers in 1951, Roy and his best friend, Bob Ramage, joined up to be pilots in the Military Airlift Command (MAC). Roy served all over the world – Korean War, Japan, Texas, Hawaii, Illinois, Vietnam Police Action, South Carolina, and California.  He was a pilot and safety officer.  He flew helicopters in Korea and Vietnam.  He flew all types of planes including C-9s, C-141s, and C-5s.  He transported wounded, entertainers (Bob Hope!), presidents, astronauts, and space travel monkeys.  He flew top secret missions over classified locations.  He retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1979 after 28 years of service.  As his after retirement career, he was an agent for USAA for 15 years.

Roy was married in 1953 to Sherry Wood and together they adopted their daughter Linda. They divorced in 1958.

In 1963, Roy married Marlene Janet Henson, and together they had two daughters Lori and Leann. Marlene preceded Roy in death in 1986.

In 1986, Roy married Joan Baca. Together they lived in Midland, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Salt Lake City, Utah. They traveled, laughed, and partied all over the country.  After their retirements, Roy and Joan moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to be near family.  He loved being near his St. Louis family, bonding with in-laws Ireland Miller, Dave and Aleen Hendrix, Jimmie and Lela Hendrix, his nieces and nephews, Kathy Knezevich, Michael Hendrix, Chris Hendrix, Geri Hirsch, Lisa Henry, Steve Hendrix, Todd Hendrix, and many great nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation in support of Veterans to your charity of choice.

Visitation for Roy will be held Monday, June 3, 2024 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at KUTIS SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL, 5255 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO.

Church Service will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, beginning at 9:30 AM at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 5508 Telegraph Road.  Followed by interment with honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Family and friends are invited to a luncheon at Andre’s Banquet Center, 4254 Telegraph Rd, beginning at 11:45 AM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at kutisfuneralhomes.com for the Lemley family.