Roy Sheridan Gilham, 95, passed away on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at the Sheridan Manor. What a sweet man and such a character is how Roy Sheridan Gilham was described by his family and friends. Roy, known as “Buddy” was born in Deer Lodge, Montana on October 15, 1923, the youngest of 4 children born to Roy and Irene Sheridan Gilham. They soon moved to Lewistown, MT and settled on Hawthorne Street where the Milwaukee Railroad played a big part in their lives; their dad being an engineer and the family taking trips to Chicago for the World’s Fair or to Butte to visit their grandmother, Minnie Sheridan. “Bud” worked for the railroad, while attending Fergus County High School, as a fireman with his engineer dad.

After he graduated high school in 1941, he attended the University of Washington and enlisted the Navy that Fall. While serving on the USS Lamarr, Roy worked as a motor machinist mate seeing action in the South Pacific. He always said the minute he saw the pretty girls at the canteens and Santa Monica beach, California was where he wanted to live; no more shoveling coal or snow! When he was honorably discharged in 1946, he went to college at the University of California in Los Angeles, joined the Theta Xi Fraternity and graduated with a BS in Industrial Engineering, with graduate studies at the University of Southern California in 1950. Roy was an avid football fan and never missed a Bruins game.

While living in Manhattan Beach, Roy went on a blind date with Diana Beaton, set up by her sister. Laguna Beach was always their hangout and favorite place to be. They married in 1952 in Pasadena and were blessed with two daughters, Carol Diana and Elizabeth Joan. In 1958, they made their home in San Gabriel while Roy worked at the US Rubber Company, later UniRoyal. In 1988, they sold their home and moved to Lake Elsinore where they had lots of friends, especially the “breakfast gang.”

Roy and Diana provided their daughters and, later, granddaughters with excursions throughout the United States, making lasting memories. There was nothing Roy liked better than to head out and go camping at the beach or a drive to…anywhere! Roy was always happiest with his family and was proud of his two daughters, six granddaughters, nine great grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all of them and made a lasting impression of kindness and love.

After losing his wife of 64 years, Roy moved to Ranchester to live with his daughter and son-in-law. The effects of Alzheimer’s dementia were catching up with him but he made the most of the last two years of his life. There are not enough words to express what the staff at the Senior Center, VA hospital, Mountain View Living Center, Sheridan Manor as well as the communities of Dayton, Ranchester, Parkman and Sheridan has meant to the family: we feel so grateful and blessed. Roy always loved the sound of trains and, when he moved to Ranchester, he used to listen for them in the morning and relished the chance to watch them pass.

Roy is survived by his daughters, Carol (Doug) Minick, Beth (Craig) Marshall, a bevy of wonderful granddaughters, great grandchildren, and fabulous nieces and nephews.

As per his request, there will be no memorial service and cremation will take place. There will be a celebration of his life at a later date, when he is interred at Riverside National Cemetery.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.

Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.

Sheridan & Johnson County Obituaries