Roy Innis Gerlach Jr.

He was born March 30, 1933 on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Oahu, when Hawaii was still a territory of the United States. He was the son of Roy Innis Gerlach and Vera Agnes “Ann” (Thomann) Wigginton. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 43 years, Betty Jane (Sherlock) Gerlach (3/20/1922 to 8/26/2009) and son Michael Joseph De Lorme (11/23/1948 to 5/19/2003).

Roy is survived by his grandchildren Raymond and Amanda De Lorme, Gina and Dewey Hoiland, Tim De Lorme, and Leona and Randy Kysar; and his great-grandchildren Riley and Mackenzie De Lorme, Shianne and Kaitlynn Dueck, Alex and Amanda Mejia, Chelsea and Joshua Avila, Max Cagnon-Hoiland, Hunter, Jax, Abigail, Lyla and Kysa Homola and William, Haily, Mallory, Reed, Maleah and Tallie Kysar.

Roy spent his early life in Honolulu, Hawaii. He remembered the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec 7, 1942 when he was 9 years old. In 1951, he graduated from Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, entered the United States Naval Reserve and was called to active duty Feb 28, 1952 (at the age of 19) and was stationed at the Pearl Harbor Submarine Base. He attended submarine school in New London, Connecticut and served on the USS Gurnard, USS Caiman, USS Queenfish and the USS Sperry. He earned the Presidential Unit citation, Purple Heart Ribbon, Korean Service Ribbon, National Defense Ribbon and the Good Conduct Ribbon. He was injured and honorably discharged as a Quartermaster Seaman, June 18, 1955 in San Diego.

Roy earned his AA & AS degrees in 1959 from Los Angeles City College. He attended University of San Diego and earned his BA in 1961. Concurrently, he entered Immaculate Heart Seminary from 1959 to 1964 in California, intending to become a priest but there were other plans in store for him. He met Betty when their mothers, who were friends, had them work together on a painting project. Betty was not to be deterred and they were married on Dec 3, 1966 in Las Vegas.

While working, he continued his education, attending North Orange County Junior College 1968-1973 to complete electrician courses. He earned a BS in Biomedicine from Los Angeles Valley College, a Master’s degree in History from University of San Diego, and his PhD in Philosophy from Hamilton State University. His careers included being a journeyman electrician and clinical engineer in the medical field. He also worked in the aerospace industry with McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, from which he retired as a Sr. Engineer/Scientist in 1999. He was also a published writer.

Roy and Betty were in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Aids to Navigation National Division out of Long Beach, California and retired after 20 years of service in 1997. Their vessel, The Banty Rooster, saved over 300 vessels and lives.

Roy and Betty retired from Carson, CA to Woodland, Washington in 1999 to be near their son and family.

Roy was very committed to his local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post 1927. He was deeply involved in the St. Philips Catholic Church and was a Sir Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed HAM radio, computers, solving engineering challenges, and speaking Hawaiian. Aligned with his love of church and his homeland, he played the organ and the ukulele (Cowlitz Ukulele Association in Kalama). He was very social and always had a joke and smile for everyone.

Roy lived a full and wonderful life, including staying in the home established by he and Betty while being surrounded and cared for by his close family the last 3 years while his dementia escalated. He will be missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

We will celebrate Roy’s life with a mass at St. Philip Catholic Church 430 Bozarth Ave, Woodland, WA 98674 Monday August 19, 2024 at 11:00am followed by a military service and celebration of life at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 434 Davidson Avenue, Woodland, WA 98674 at 1:15 pm. He will be buried at sea.