John F. "Jack" Royston
John F. "Jack" Royston passed away June 23rd due to complications with Parkinson's and dementia at the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford.
He was the son of the late Jean M. and Charles "Dewey" Royston.
He was preceded in death by his son John G. "Jackie" Royston, David C. Royston and grandson Kyle Royston.
He is survived by his wife and best friend of 68 years of marriage Nancy L. Royston, his son James D. Royston of Middletown along with grandchildren Michael, Sarah, Samantha, Hannah, Desmond and Kirk Royston and great grandchildren Colton and Nora Mae Royston. His sister Dew Ann and her husband Bill Hawks of Henderson, Nevada.
Jack was a graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1954 and Hobart College in 1958. He played four years of football at Hobart including their last two undefeated teams. Jack was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity while at Hobart.
After college Jack served our country with the US Air Force for 28 years. Jack retired in 1986 as a LT Colonel. He had 963 combat flying hours in Vietnam. His decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross and Meritorious Service Medal amongst others. Jack had over 11,000 flying hours.
Jack was very active in local sports: coaching little league baseball, Pop Warner football and airbase basketball. Jack was also very active in numerous civic and service organizations: Camden-Wyoming Rotary Club (Past President and district area Representative), Salvation Army (Past Council Chairman), USO (Board member), Meals on Wheels and Wesley United Methodist Church (Trustee and Finance Chairman).
Jack enjoyed spending beach time with his grandchildren and eating crabs with the family at 4th of July celebration in Ocean Pines, MD. Jack was a 21-year season ticket holder for the Baltimore Orioles, enjoyed traveling with his wife and friends and sharing a nice cold Yuengling with friends. Some of his best times were spent attending his grandchildren's sporting events: football, softball, soccer and cheerleading.
A visitation will take place Thursday June 27th at Torbert Funeral Chapel, 1145 E. Lebanon Road (Rt.10), Dover from 12 to 3 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 28th at Wesley Methodist Church in Dover.
Due to the wonderful care Jack received at DVH, in lieu of flowers, the family ask donations in his memory to be made to the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford Delaware, 100 Delaware Veteran Way, Milford, DE 19963.
