1931 – 2016

AUBURN — Roy Derstine Loux passed away after a long illness, surrounded by his loving wife and daughters on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the Hospice House in Auburn.

He was born in 1931. Roy was the oldest son of William Curtis and Ruth Loux of Souderton, Pa. He graduated from Souderton High School in 1949 and worked as a carpenter before enlisting in the U.S. Army. Roy served in the U.S. Corps of Engineers from 1951 to 1954.

After returning from Korea, Roy attended Millersville State Teachers’ College on the GI Bill. He graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in education and later earned master’s and Specialist of Education degrees from Rutgers University. Roy taught industrial arts for six years and then served as business administrator and superintendent in Highland Park, N.J.

In 1975, Roy became superintendent of schools in Auburn, where he advocated for students for 15 years, until his retirement in 1990. He was most proud of developing a successful alternative education program for students. Roy served as president of the State Superintendents’ Association and was Maine Superintendent of the Year in 1990. He also served as the executive director of the Western Maine Administrators’ Consortium and continued to work as a consultant for the Maine Administrators’ Consortium after his retirement.

Thompson Lake held a special place in Roy’s heart. He put his carpentry skills to good use, building a summer home attached to his in-laws’ camp. That summer home turned into a permanent home after his retirement. Roy loved life on Thompson Lake: fishing, boat rides, taking his children and grandchildren water-skiing and picking blueberries.

When able, Roy was an avid golfer, belonging to the Maine State Golf Association, as president of the Couples League at Summit Springs Golf Course and teaching his daughters and grandchildren to play. Roy was also an enthusiastic sports fan, following his grandchildren’s participation in a variety of sports and watching any televised game, especially his favorites, the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies.

Roy is survived by a large and loving family: his wife of 58 years, Bea of Poland; their children, Debbie and Steve Fuller of Freeport, Barbara Loux and her husband, William Heywood, of Yarmouth, and Cindy and Theron Kropp of Wales; as well as 12 loving grandchildren, Kayla and her husband, Dylan, Abby, Nate, Megan, Suzanne, Bekah, Eli, Kurt, Lizzie, Andrew and Chris. Roy is also survived by three sisters, Irene Baker, Christine Henning and Constance Murray; and a brother, Gordon Loux.

He was predeceased by a sister, Ferne Sanford.

The family would like to thank the Veterans’ Administration for providing Roy with his education and their assistance with his health care.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.dolbyfuneralchapels.com.