Roby, Walter Scott 1855-1917

ROBY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/12/2011 at 10:09:40

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Nov. 27, 1917

OBITUARY

WALTER SCOTT ROBY

Walter Scott Roby was born at Alexandria, N.H., May 17, 1855, and died in Grinnell of pneumonia at 10:30 o'clock Nov. 23,1917, aged 62 years, 6 months and 6 days.

Mr. Roby came to Grinnell when a young man in 1877, and for forty years he was a prominent and well liked man in Grinnell. About 1890 he married the wife who survives him at Lowell, Mass. Here both have lived, and around their home have centered many of the social and club activities of the city.

Early Mr. Roby entered the employ of the U.S. Express Co., later to become the local agent, a position he filled with honor and credit till he resigned to enter the partnership of Wesco & Roby.

The funeral was held at the residence, 822 East street, Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Dr. E.A. Steiner spoke. The music was by a quartet from the Elks lodge, composed of O.B. Mathews, Oscar Kalson, Paul Proctor and D.E. Peck. The pallbearers represented the four lodges of which Mr. Roby was a member, the Elks, Masons, Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows. They were M.W. Swisher, A.C. Lyon, F.S. Edge, Frank Wallace, John Jantzen, Wm. Gardner, W.T. Moyle, H.B. Westlake, M.J. Garrigan, Floyd Willson, W.H. Wesco, Dr. O.H. Gallagher, J.E. Bayer and Ed Wheatley.

The body was taken to Lowell, Mass., for burial, accompanied by Mrs. Roby, who will remain for several weeks.

Although Mr. Roby was a member of several lodges, he was most active as a Knight of Pythias.

He was one of the charter members in 1887. He filled all the chairs and several years represented the lodge at the Grand Lodge, holding at one time an office in the Grand Jurisdiction.

All who knew Mr. Roby were his friends. Kind, cheerful, genial and likeable, he knew no enemies. Dr. Steiner spoke from the words, "Thy gentleness hath made me great," words which seemed to typify the lovable humanity of the deceased man.

Mrs. Roby has a large circle of friends to join her in mourning the loss of a noble man.