Roy Denney

Graveside services for Roy Edward Denney, 85, of Roswell, will be held at 11 am Monday March 23, 2009 at South Park Cemetery with Cecil Kimberlin officiating. Mr. Roy E. Denney was born in Goodwell, Oklahoma on December 11, 1923. He was the only child of L.F. and Lillian Denney, who preceded him in death. He attended school in Goodwell and was enrolled at Panhandle A&M College when he was called to active duty in the United States Army Air Corp. He was stationed at various bases while training in B17s. He and his crew were sent overseas to England’s 8th Air Force and stationed at Grafton’s Underwood-106th –the 384th bomb group. On his thirteenth mission over Germany, his plane was shot down. Three of his crew were killed and the others were wounded including himself. After being taken prisoner, he was confined in several POW camps. He was liberated at Mooseberg, Germany in 1945, and flown to Rhemes, France where he was returned to the US on a hospital ship. Upon returning to the U.S. he was given a 90 day RR leave before being sent to the Don Cezar Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida for surgery. Upon release from the hospital he was sent to Randolph Field, Texas, released from active duty, and transferred to the USAF Reserves. He received the Air medal with Distinguished Flying Cross Cluster, Purple Heart, POW Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with Cluster, ETC Medal and three battle stars. Captain Denney had two great loves, “Flying and Learning.” Mr. Denney enrolled at Texas Tech and transferred to North Texas State in Denton, Texas, where he met the love of his life. He and Johnnie Moore were married on September 19, 1947. While attending North Texas, he was selected as “Whose Who in American Colleges and Universities.” He was president of Gamma-Thea Upsilon, Delta Kappa and was awarded a teaching fellowship at Oklahoma A&M. In 1952 he was teaching in Roswell, New Mexico when he was once again called to active duty. Unable to pass his flight physical he was transferred to reserves again. He returned to Roswell where he taught at NMMI, Mesa, Goddard and Roswell High. He is survived by two daughters; Dianna and Pamela, two grandaughters; Tammie Cunningham and Tonya Crabb, four great grand children ; Chandler and Kaylee Cunningham and Mikey and Joey Crabb. Mr. Denney is preceded in death by his wife Johnnie Denney. HIGH FLIGHT Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds-and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious burning blue I’ve topped the wind –swept heights with easy grace, Where never lark, or even eagle flew; And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God John Gillespie Magee, Jr. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family in the online register book at andersonbethany.com Services are under the direction of Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home & Crematory.

Roy Denney

December 11, 1923 - March 15, 2009