James C. Roby

James C. "Sam" Roby, 93, of Owensboro, died Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at the Owensboro Medical Health System. He was born August 20, 1916, to the late Daniel and Anna Lea Mattingly Roby in Tompkinsville, KY. He was a member of Blessed Mother Catholic Church, and he started, owned and operated Roby Vending Company, and was a Wurlitzer Jukebox distributor. He was a member of the Ayer Flying Club, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, he was an Army Air-Corps Veteran and a Military Flight Instructor during WW II, he taught Aeronautical Science at Western Kentucky University during WW II, and was stationed at Kessler Field in Biloxi, MS, and in Denver, CO. He worked at Republic Aviation in Evansville, IN during WW II, checking out P47 Thunderbolts, and started the Owensboro Sea Plane Base at the foot of Frederica St. in 1949. He was a member of the VFW, and the American Legion, and he started Star TV, and Globe Mobile Homes, Inc., and several other businesses.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Natoma "Toni" Roby, and his 2nd wife, Mary Roby, his daughter, Sharon McCain, and his brothers, Snooky, Leon, Bill and Dick Roby.

Survivors include his wife, Genevieve Roby; his son, Greg Roby of Owensboro, his daughters, Linda Fortune and Martha Roby, both of Lexington; eight grandchildren, Gregson Carl Roby, Ross Roby, Celeste Roby, Mary Sky Fortune, Scott McCain, Stephen McCain, Leah Beth Settles, and Brian Barbieri; five great-grandchildren.

Services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, with entombment in Resurrection Cemetery, with Military Honors by VFW Post 696. Visitation will be 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM Friday and after 8:30 AM Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wendell Foster Center, 815 Triplett St., Owensboro, KY.