J. William Royer, 86, of Mechanicsburg, PA and formerly of Camp Hill, passed away on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at Messiah Lifeways, Mechanicsburg.
Born on March 27, 1928 in Altoona, PA, he was the son of the late David A. and Mary Frances (MacFadden) Royer and he was the widower of Annette H. Royer. He was the retired President of Aycock, Inc, Hummelstown. He had worked for 36 years at this specialty contractor for mechanical construction. Of the many heavy rigging and construction projects, his family took the most delight in Aycock's role in the installation of the Sooperdooperlooper at Hershey Park. He worked for Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY for four years.
He was a 1945 graduate and salutatorian of Camp Hill High School; he went on to receive his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1949 from Lehigh University, Bethlehem. He received his M.S. in Industrial Administration in 1952 from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh. He was a 2nd Lt., in the US Army Ordnance Corps from 1949-1950 and was a 1st Lt., in the US Army Reserve from 1950-1964. Bill has been a member of the Camp Hill Presbyterian Church since 1942, where he served as an elder, trustee, deacon, and choir member. He served on the Board of Directors for Presbyterian Apartments, Inc. since 1994, and served as chair of the board for 12 years. He was a past treasurer for the Carlisle Presbytery.
Bill was a past chairman for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers – Susquehanna Section, and a former board member of the Kiwanis Club of Harrisburg and the Harrisburg Symphony. He was a past president of American Subcontractors Association of Central PA; he was a member of Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers and of the Commonwealth Contractors Coalition. He served on the Camp Hill Zoning Hearing Board and on the board of the Camp Hill Lion Foundation.
Bill was a member of the West Shore Country Club for over 50 years and was an avid golfer, even achieving a hole in one on April 17, 2004. He enjoyed snow skiing and was a member of the Susquehanna Ski Club for over 30 years. He enjoyed playing bridge and hearts and was a member of a couple's bridge club for over 40 years. He liked swimming, boating and spending time at Keuka Lake, N.Y.
He is survived by his wife, Xenia B. (Sterniuk) Royer, two daughters, Suzanne M. Royer, of Lutherville, MD and Lynne A. Royer and her husband Bruce J. Saldinger, of Orinda, CA, a brother, George H. Royer and his wife Patricia, of Los Gatos, CA, two stepdaughters, Kathy (Diveglia) Smiley and her husband Richard, of Tarpon Springs, FL, and Sherrie Diveglia and her husband Frank Ro, of San Pedro, CA, a stepson, David Diveglia of Enola, and seven grandchildren, Daniel Royer Iachan, Anna Royer Saldinger, Ethan Royer Saldinger, Madeleine Smiley, Alexa Smiley, Hailey Ro, and Logan Ro.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 26, 2014, at 11:00 A.M. at the Camp Hill Presbyterian Church, 101 N. 23rd St., Camp Hill, with the Rev. Dr. David Roquemore officiating. A visitation with the family will be held in the church on Saturday at 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service. A private burial was held in the Rolling Green Cemetery, Camp Hill.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Camp Hill Presbyterian Church, 101 N. 23rd St., Camp Hill, PA 17011.