William Albert Roady

William Albert Roady

William Albert Roady, 91, of Bonners Ferry, passed away on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, while residing at Sunset Home Assisted Living. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at the First Baptist Church in Bonners Ferry, at 6711 El Paso St.

William “Bill” was born June 10, 1927 in Alton, Ill., to William and Alma (Coates) Roady. Bill grew up and went to school in the Alton area along with his three sisters. He entered the U.S. Navy at 17 years old with his mother’s permission and the promise that he would complete high school and receive his diploma, a promise that he kept. Bill served in the Pacific Theater of World War II during the last year of the war on various seaplane tender ships.

Following his discharge from the Navy he went into aviation, completing his aviation schooling at Spartan College of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Okla. Bill held Airframe & Powerplant and pilot licenses. He spent his entire career in the airline industry, retiring in 1991 from US Airways. Following retirement he continued to build and fly small airplanes from the airstrip on their farm near Fillmore, Ind.

Bill married Geraldine “Gerry” (Rushing) Roady on Sept. 14, 1951. Bill and Gerry had two sons, Charles William (1953) and Rick Roland (1958) while living in Indiana. Bill and Gerry lived and worked on their farm in Putnam County, Indiana, for almost 60 years from 1957 until moving to Bonners Ferry in October 2016.

Bill is survived by his wife Gerry, son Charles (Chuck) and wife Gayla of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, son Rick of Clearwater, Kan., grandsons Ryan (Laura) of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and Tyler (Amber) of Harrison, Idaho, and four great-grandchildren, Claire, Emma, Weston and Owen. Bill was predeceased by his three sisters, Marge, Delores, and Rose, but is survived by their children his nieces and nephews, Tom, Martha, John, Susie, John Michael, and Sabrina.