Roy F. Deshazer

Roy F. Deshazer “Papa D”, 81, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, formerly of Belleville, Illinois, passed away on Monday, June 26, 2023. Born in Payette, Idaho to the late Lester and Idabelle Deshazer. He was married to Beverly Deshazer. Roy attended Payette public schools, after graduating high school he earned a BS degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Northrop Institute of Technology, Inglewood, California in 1964, following he earned a MA degree in Management in 1986 from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri. He was employed as a design engineer by the Boeing Company (formerly McDonnell Douglas Corp.) for 37 years, retiring as a Senior Engineering Manager in 2001. Roy was instrumental in designing the aircraft F-4, F-18, and the Bird of Prey stealth jet to name a few. Those who saw the movie Top Gun: Maverick will have witnessed (and may have been in awe) of the F-18 fighter jet in action. Later in his career at Boeing, his role was more managerial. He managed more than 1500 engineers and designers and became a black belt in Six Sigma to help manage efficiency and process improvement initiatives. Following his retirement from the Boeing Company, he brought his expertise to Full Circle Enterprises, Inc., a company that he co-managed with Beverly, his wife of more than 50 years. They managed trade shows for several companies in the St. Louis area and then transitioned into managing “Welfare to Work” initiatives for the federal government. Roy was also the business advisor for his daughter Dawn’s local Lancaster business Prana Functional Manual Therapy until his recent illness. In his spare time, Roy was an avid wood-worker and could be found in his “Batcave making sawdust” or on the tennis court playing doubles with partner Beverly against “The Crazies” (long story) or watching NASCAR and the St. Louis baseball Cardinals. He often drank Bud Light and made it sound official on Friday Pizza Nights by saying “it takes beer to turn pizza into food.” In the kids’ formative years, he could be found teaching them to ride a bike, sit up straight at the dinner table and help with math homework. In addition to his beloved wife, Beverly, Roy is survived by his three stepchildren whom he loved as his own, Terry Williams Levy, Rodney Williams and Dawn Williams Cox, sister, Dianne (Larry) Moore, half-brother, Gary Deshazer, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Idabelle Deshazer. Friends in Lancaster, PA are invited to attend a Gathering in Roy’s honor at The Groffs Family Funeral Home at 528 W. Orange Street, Lancaster on Thursday, August 24, 2023. A Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. and a Time of Sharing at 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Winstanley Baptist Church, Fairview Heights, Illinois.