Leonard
Leonard Roe
d. September 22, 2010
Leonard (Len) Alton Roe, age 78, died Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at his home in Tavernier, Florida from Multiple Systems Atrophy, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
Born October 23, 1931 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Glenn A. & Mary Louise Roe, an only child raised in Lawton, received his B.A. in History at Oklahoma City University, and his Masters in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Len met Patricia A. Smith in the summer of 1954 while working a summer job singing in a quartet at Buck Hill Resort in Canadensis, Pennsylvania where they married on November 12, 1954. Their first two children were born while Len was still in school, Gregory G. Roe born June 17, 1956 in Princeton and Jeffery D. Roe born August 8, 1957 in Plainfield. Upon receiving his M. Div they moved to Cordell Oklahoma where he was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church. While in Cordell, the family was joined by Teresa L. Roe born July 26, 1958 in Oklahoma City and Lisa V. Roe born December 16, 1959 in Cordell.
Len's career eventually led him to the First Presbyterian Church on Davis Island in Tampa, Florida in 1962. He stayed there until he left the ministry in 1965 and joined the James L Erb Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Agency. During this time he earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) from the American College, the world's most respected life insurance designation. He worked there until 1974 when he and colleague William (Bill) Armistead purchased the Shorter Insurance Agency in New Port Richey, Fl and renamed it Armistead-Roe Insurance. Len's son Gregory joined the agency in 1980, and in 1982 Len bought out Armistead and renamed the agency to Roe Insurance.
Len was very active in his community serving as a Board Member for the Pasco County Economic Development Council (EDC), where he worked on the formation of the Tampa Bay Partnership which brought the EDC of Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties together to promote economic growth in the Tampa Bay area. He also served on the board of Youth and Family Alternatives (an organization which provides services to children in the Tampa Bay Area who are abused, neglected or in crisis), was a Committee of 100 board chair, and served as a board member of SunTrust Bank Suncoast Region. Leonard worked and lived in Pasco County until 1996 when he retired, with he and Pat splitting their time between Tampa and their condo in Tavernier in the Florida Keys. In 2001, Pat and Len bought a home and permanently relocated to Tavernier.
Even in retirement, Len remained very active, serving as Manager and Treasurer for the Anchor Condo where they first lived. He also volunteered at Mariners Hospital, as well as being elected to Commodore of the Florida Keys Outboard Motor Club.
Len was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed by all. Len is survived by his wife Pat Roe (Tavernier, Fl.), their son Greg (Dade City) and his children: Rebecca Roe (5), Lukas Roe (10), Sydney Roe (20), Jessica Roe (27), Melenie Fratilla (27) & her son Austin (1) and Misty Keough (28) and her sons Landon (5) and Nathan (1) all living in the Tampa Bay area; their son Jeff (Scottsdale, AZ) and his children: Christopher Roe (25) living in Scottsdale, Az. and Courtney Roe (22) living in Los Angeles, CA.; their daughter Terri Bernard (Odessa) and her children: Tiffany Rhodes (27) living is Gainesville, Fl., Elliot Bernard (22) and Hannah Bernard (19); and their daughter Lisa Roe (Crystal Beach) and her children: Elizabeth VanBroekhoven (25), Sara VanBroekhoven (24) and Haley VanBroekhoven (20) all living in Tampa Bay area. Len was predeceased by his father Glenn Roe (2007) and Mary Louise Roe (2004).
Per Len's wishes he will be cremated and his ashes spread over the ocean during a private ceremony with his family. A celebration of Len's life will be held at their home, 112 Harbor Ln, Tavernier, Fl. 33070 on Saturday, November 27th from 3pm to 7pm. All friends and family are invited. Please call Pat Roe at 305.852.5171 for further information. In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation to Hospice of the Florida Keys, 92001 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, Fl. 33070 in memory of Len.
Born October 23, 1931 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Glenn A. & Mary Louise Roe, an only child raised in Lawton, received his B.A. in History at Oklahoma City University, and his Masters in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Len met Patricia A. Smith in the summer of 1954 while working a summer job singing in a quartet at Buck Hill Resort in Canadensis, Pennsylvania where they married on November 12, 1954. Their first two children were born while Len was still in school, Gregory G. Roe born June 17, 1956 in Princeton and Jeffery D. Roe born August 8, 1957 in Plainfield. Upon receiving his M. Div they moved to Cordell Oklahoma where he was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church. While in Cordell, the family was joined by Teresa L. Roe born July 26, 1958 in Oklahoma City and Lisa V. Roe born December 16, 1959 in Cordell.
Len's career eventually led him to the First Presbyterian Church on Davis Island in Tampa, Florida in 1962. He stayed there until he left the ministry in 1965 and joined the James L Erb Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Agency. During this time he earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) from the American College, the world's most respected life insurance designation. He worked there until 1974 when he and colleague William (Bill) Armistead purchased the Shorter Insurance Agency in New Port Richey, Fl and renamed it Armistead-Roe Insurance. Len's son Gregory joined the agency in 1980, and in 1982 Len bought out Armistead and renamed the agency to Roe Insurance.
Len was very active in his community serving as a Board Member for the Pasco County Economic Development Council (EDC), where he worked on the formation of the Tampa Bay Partnership which brought the EDC of Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties together to promote economic growth in the Tampa Bay area. He also served on the board of Youth and Family Alternatives (an organization which provides services to children in the Tampa Bay Area who are abused, neglected or in crisis), was a Committee of 100 board chair, and served as a board member of SunTrust Bank Suncoast Region. Leonard worked and lived in Pasco County until 1996 when he retired, with he and Pat splitting their time between Tampa and their condo in Tavernier in the Florida Keys. In 2001, Pat and Len bought a home and permanently relocated to Tavernier.
Even in retirement, Len remained very active, serving as Manager and Treasurer for the Anchor Condo where they first lived. He also volunteered at Mariners Hospital, as well as being elected to Commodore of the Florida Keys Outboard Motor Club.
Len was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed by all. Len is survived by his wife Pat Roe (Tavernier, Fl.), their son Greg (Dade City) and his children: Rebecca Roe (5), Lukas Roe (10), Sydney Roe (20), Jessica Roe (27), Melenie Fratilla (27) & her son Austin (1) and Misty Keough (28) and her sons Landon (5) and Nathan (1) all living in the Tampa Bay area; their son Jeff (Scottsdale, AZ) and his children: Christopher Roe (25) living in Scottsdale, Az. and Courtney Roe (22) living in Los Angeles, CA.; their daughter Terri Bernard (Odessa) and her children: Tiffany Rhodes (27) living is Gainesville, Fl., Elliot Bernard (22) and Hannah Bernard (19); and their daughter Lisa Roe (Crystal Beach) and her children: Elizabeth VanBroekhoven (25), Sara VanBroekhoven (24) and Haley VanBroekhoven (20) all living in Tampa Bay area. Len was predeceased by his father Glenn Roe (2007) and Mary Louise Roe (2004).
Per Len's wishes he will be cremated and his ashes spread over the ocean during a private ceremony with his family. A celebration of Len's life will be held at their home, 112 Harbor Ln, Tavernier, Fl. 33070 on Saturday, November 27th from 3pm to 7pm. All friends and family are invited. Please call Pat Roe at 305.852.5171 for further information. In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation to Hospice of the Florida Keys, 92001 Overseas Highway, Tavernier, Fl. 33070 in memory of Len.
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