Obituary for Roy Gene Willeford
Funeral services for Roy Willeford, 76, formerly of East Texas, are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 6, 2022, at Chandler Memorial Funeral Home with Bro. George Folmar officiating.
Mr. Willeford passed away on April 26, 2022, in Conroe.
Roy Gene Willeford was born October 25, 1945, in Gladewater, the son of Charles Edward and Mary Evelyn (Shafer) Willeford. He graduated from Kilgore High School in 1964 and served in the United States Navy from 1965 until 1969 during the Vietnam War. While serving as a medic, he was injured in the line of duty and received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Roy married Brenda Sue Spinks in 1970, and together they had two children- Ronda Gayle (1972) and Joseph Charles “Chuck” (1975). He worked in the oil field throughout the 80s while attending night classes at Kilgore College, obtaining his associate degree in 1988. Roy’s love of cooking would inspire him to open his restaurant, The Hickory House Barbecue in Frankston, in operation from the late ’80s into the early ’90s. He would then begin his career as a Parole Officer, specializing in substance abuse cases, an area he felt was a ministry to him as he had also experienced his recovery from alcoholism. A highlight of his career was being appointed by Governor Ann W. Richards as one of twenty-five parole officers stationed throughout Texas during her time in office. He would spend his tenure from 1991 to 1995 at the Rusk State Penitentiary. Roy retired from Pardons and Paroles in 2005 out of the Gregg County office. He was active in the Southern Baptist denomination as an ordained deacon. Roy was an avid Dallas Cowboys, LSU, and Saints fan and always got mistaken for Jimmy Johnson, something he found very entertaining. He loved fishing, football, and family gatherings and enjoyed collecting antiques and finding unique ways to repurpose them. His legacy as a husband, father, grandfather, veteran, and friend, will live on in the lives of those he leaves behind.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his children, Ronda Cade and husband Conley of Chandler, Chuck Willeford and wife Brandi of Kilgore; and his grandchildren, Caleb Cade, Cody Cade, Emma Cade, Mallory Willeford, and Charli Willeford.
A visitation will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022, from 1-2:00 p.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the BISD Education Foundation, P.O. Box 465, Brownsboro, Texas 75756, or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Chandler Memorial Funeral Home family.
Mr. Willeford passed away on April 26, 2022, in Conroe.
Roy Gene Willeford was born October 25, 1945, in Gladewater, the son of Charles Edward and Mary Evelyn (Shafer) Willeford. He graduated from Kilgore High School in 1964 and served in the United States Navy from 1965 until 1969 during the Vietnam War. While serving as a medic, he was injured in the line of duty and received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Roy married Brenda Sue Spinks in 1970, and together they had two children- Ronda Gayle (1972) and Joseph Charles “Chuck” (1975). He worked in the oil field throughout the 80s while attending night classes at Kilgore College, obtaining his associate degree in 1988. Roy’s love of cooking would inspire him to open his restaurant, The Hickory House Barbecue in Frankston, in operation from the late ’80s into the early ’90s. He would then begin his career as a Parole Officer, specializing in substance abuse cases, an area he felt was a ministry to him as he had also experienced his recovery from alcoholism. A highlight of his career was being appointed by Governor Ann W. Richards as one of twenty-five parole officers stationed throughout Texas during her time in office. He would spend his tenure from 1991 to 1995 at the Rusk State Penitentiary. Roy retired from Pardons and Paroles in 2005 out of the Gregg County office. He was active in the Southern Baptist denomination as an ordained deacon. Roy was an avid Dallas Cowboys, LSU, and Saints fan and always got mistaken for Jimmy Johnson, something he found very entertaining. He loved fishing, football, and family gatherings and enjoyed collecting antiques and finding unique ways to repurpose them. His legacy as a husband, father, grandfather, veteran, and friend, will live on in the lives of those he leaves behind.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his children, Ronda Cade and husband Conley of Chandler, Chuck Willeford and wife Brandi of Kilgore; and his grandchildren, Caleb Cade, Cody Cade, Emma Cade, Mallory Willeford, and Charli Willeford.
A visitation will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022, from 1-2:00 p.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the BISD Education Foundation, P.O. Box 465, Brownsboro, Texas 75756, or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Chandler Memorial Funeral Home family.