Richard Day Royce

Richard Day Royce, 92, of Newnan, Georgia passed away peacefully on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Wesley Woods of Newnan.

Dick was born on August 8, 1931, in Savannah, Georgia, the son of Harvey Day Royce and Marjorie Baker Royce. He was preceded in death by his beloved sisters, Janet Royce Mills and Carolyn Royce Erickson.

Dick grew up in Savannah, where he enjoyed fishing and crabbing at Half Moon with his father, and he continued to be an avid fisherman until the final year of his long life. He graduated from Savannah High School in 1949, and then entered the University of Wisconsin where he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity. While there, he formed a musical quartet, the Mendota Mudcats, playing the banjo and harmonica for students and friends. His love of music, particularly opera and Dixieland jazz, brought him much joy throughout his life.

Dick met his wife Adaline Graham Miller in 1947 at age 15 and they married in August 1953, when he was immediately drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was posted at Fort Gordon, Georgia and was honorably discharged. They settled in Athens, Georgia along the Oconee River. He planted a fig tree down by the river and loved making fig jam for his friends and neighbors in his spare time. He received his MBA from the University of Georgia, followed by a long and satisfying career at Westinghouse. Dick and Adaline were longtime members of Athens First United Methodist Church.

Dick leaves behind his wife of 70 years, Adaline Miller Royce, Newnan, GA; son Richard Royce, Jr. (Susan), St. Augustine, FL, daughter Patricia Chapman (Steve), New York City, and daughter Edie Eldridge (Frank), Newnan, GA; grandchildren Thomas Royce (Gina), Conshohocken, PA, Emily Royce (Steve), Philadelphia, PA, Royce Eldridge (Kristie), Marietta, GA, Eleanor Chapman, New York City, and Harris Eldridge (Cheney), Augusta, GA; and great-grandchildren Thomas Royce, Charles Royce, Cissy Eldridge, Elaine Royce and Winslow Eldridge.

The family will hold a private interment in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Athens First United Methodist Church, 327 Lumpkin St, Athens, Georgia 30601 or athensfirstumc.org/give.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.mckoon.com

McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory (770) 253-4580