William A Roys

William (Bill) Arthur Roys, 73

Oxford, NY

November 8, 1950 – June 27, 2024

William (Bill) Arthur Roys was born and raised in Oxford, NY by his parents Grace and Arthur Roys. A multi-sport athlete, Bill graduated from Oxford Academy in 1969 where he met his future wife Lynne. They married at Oxford’s St. Joseph’s Church in 1971 before he deployed as an enlisted man in the Navy on the USS Slater. For his faithful service to our country as Petty Office Third Class, Bill was awarded a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. Bill then returned to his Oxford roots where he and Lynne have raised their three children and enjoyed their grandchildren over the past 50+ years. 

In addition to the experience gained during his military service and time spent as a volunteer Fireman and EMT, Bill furthered his education to acquire his respiratory therapist license. He started out with a local homecare company where he enjoyed driving around the area to serve the local community, then transitioned to Chenango Memorial Hospital from which he eventually retired to pursue the finer things in life. Bill loved hunting, golfing, reading, and, most importantly, spending time with his family. The weekend-long Slaby-Roys Family Reunion was always the highlight of Bill’s summer, an annual tradition now entrusted to the next generation and the importance of which has forever been, and will forever be, impressed upon the hearts of the Roys family. 

At age 73, with his wife and children by his side, Bill passed away peacefully of natural causes at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. Left to honor his memory are his loving wife Lynne (Schmidt) Roys of Oxford, NY, children Timothy Roys of Oxford, NY, Adam (Janelle) Roys of Hudson Falls, NY, and Lynette Roys of Oxford, NY, grandchildren Kylie Roys of Wilmington, NC, Mya-Rae and Kennedy Roys of Oxford, NY, Ayla and Talia Roys of Hudson Falls, NY, and Crishaun Roys and Calina Roys-Robinson of Oxford, NY, aunts Marianne Slaby-Asarese of North Tonawanda, NY, and Joan (Ellsworth) Slaby of Brookline, MA, step-sister Betsy (Cooke) McCormack of Plymouth, NY, and sister-in-law Pamela (Swayze) Roys of Norwich, NY, as well as an abundance of nephews, nieces, and cousins. 

Bill was predeceased by his parents Arthur Roys and Grace (Slaby) Roys-Cooke, step-father Delmar (Del) Cooke (who was married to Grace after Arthur’s untimely death), sister Linda Roys-Jones (June 2, 2024), brother Gerald Roys (January 16, 2021), and brother-in-law Larry Jones (January 14, 2021.)

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Behe Funeral Home Inc., 21 Main Street, Oxford, NY 13830. No funeral services will take place at this time. Friends and family may share condolences and memories by visiting www.Behefuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider making memorial contributions to the Oxford Fire Department, PO Box 570, Oxford, NY 13830. 

The Roys Family would like to thank the staff of the Syracuse VA Medical Center for their exceptional care and compassion. 

Keep hitting those low notes Dad. 

“The Song Will Remain” (Steeleye Span, Time, Park Records, 1996) 

If I were a singer I’d sing you a song

A song that would live in your heart forever

I’d sing it loud and strong

Every single word

So that when my life is over

And I never see you again

The singer may die but the song will remain