Roy Melnar, Sr.

Roy Gene Melnar Sr, “Roy Sr.” age 75, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 21, 2022. The Lord decided it was his time. It was time for him to join Judy, his beloved wife of 50 years in Eternity.

Roy was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Alvin Emil Melnar and Lillie Bollom Melnar. He was the middle of three children, a brother to his two sisters, Lillie Mae James and Pamela Jo McDonald.

Roy graduated from John H. Reagan High School in Houston Heights where he met his wife, Judy Orts Wilson. Not long after graduating, he entered the Houston Fire Department (HFD) where he served for 20 years. He continued to learn and understand the value of hard work and dedication. During that time, he started and ran his own successful company, Melnar Roofing.

Roy’s love for the outdoors and passion for hunting continued throughout his lifetime with his only son, Roy Jr. He loved spending time at his farm, where he passed on his love and knowledge to his family. In the afternoons, he enjoyed sitting on the porch with his grandsons on his lap, watching the deer, turkeys, and enjoying a beer on ice.

Roy was a Spring Branch American Little League (SBALL) Coach for Roy Jr.’s teams for over ten years. Passing on his love of baseball and coaching to his son and grandsons, his coaching legacy continues as Roy Jr. led his team to the SBALL Coach Pitch Championship in 2021.

Roy’s life was fulfilled and forever changed when he became Paw Paw.  “An exceptional grandfather is not about changing your grandchildren; it is about changing yourself.” Roy took extreme pride in his two grandsons, Parker, and Hunter, who he loved deeply. That love was mutual. A devoted grandfather, his grandsons were a constant presence in his life. Paw Paw will forever be their hero, and no cowboy was ever faster on the draw than Paw Paw pulling out pictures of his grandsons.

Roy enjoyed gambling; you could find him with a hand full of football squares, lotto tickets, or a deck of cards at any given time. His love for card games was handed down to his grandson Parker. They would play go fish, crazy eights, and old maid, while trading money and laughs for hours.

There was no one else quite like Roy Melnar Sr.  He will be remembered most for his fierce personality, strength, lifelong work ethic, unwavering love of his grandsons, and loyalty to his family and his dogs, Molly and Missy. He was known to have a beer in his hand and a grin on his face. He was either a grizzly bear or a teddy bear, nothing in between. His philosophy on life was simple, “when you’re on you’re on and when you’re off you’re off.”

“Life is hard, but it’s harder when you’re stupid.” John Wayne

Roy Sr. was preceded in death by his wife and love of his life, Judy Melnar and parents; Lillie Bollom Melnar and Alvin Emil Melnar.

Roy Sr. is survived by his only son and best friend Roy Melnar Jr. and wife Allison Fuller Melnar and his two greatest joys, grandsons Parker Alexander Melnar and Hunter Roy Melnar, sister Lillie Mae James, sister and her husband Pamela and Joe McDonald, nieces and their husbands, Heidi and Jay Tieken, Crystal and Patrick Gant, PJ and Anthony Digiovanni, Jodie and Michael Froebel, nephews and their wives, King and Cindy Tieken, Chad James, and Christina LeBlanc, and many other friends and family.

A Celebration of Roy’s Life will be held on February 5th, 2022, at Spring Branch American Legion, 3105 Campbell Road, Houston, Texas 77080. Guests are welcome any time from 1-5pm. Blessing and prayer led by HFD Chaplain, Rick Ponce will be at 2pm, followed by a BBQ lunch.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations go towards the love for his grandsons, Parker and Hunter, who would like to plant a tree in his honor, at their school, Pine Shadows Elementary.

Spring Branch Education Foundation-plant a tree in honor of Roy Melnar Sr

Here is the Pay Pal link for donations in memory of Roy Melnar Sr.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SLSVUBXKWYP8L