Family Submission
Roy Charles St. John, 85, went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 11, 2024. He was born on Nov. 23, 1938, in Independence, Kans., to Louis St. John and Ida May St. John. Roy was a loving husband, strong father, and amazing grandfather and great-grandfather.
Roy is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 63 years, Sylvia St. John, his three sons Charles, Jeffrey, and Kenneth St. John, his six grandchildren, Brandon, Jamie, Sarah, Emily, Julia, and Jennifer, and his six great-grandchildren, Hayes, Rhett, Harper, Kynlee, Farah, and Norah.
Roy was raised near Boulanger, Okla., and later moved to Longton, Kans., where he graduated from Longton High School in 1956. He attended college at Independence Junior College and joined the Navy where he was stationed in Pensacola Beach Florida.
Roy met his wife Sylvia in 1958 and they were married on May 29, 1960. Together they traveled the world while he worked for IBM as a Computer Programmer. During his time with IBM, Roy worked on the IBM computers and software that powered NASA’s space shuttle program and won an award for his work. Roy also was a member of IBM’s FSD Charitable Contributions Campaign in Houston where they set record-breaking numbers in campaign donations in 1981. He spent 32 years with IBM.
Roy was very involved in his community. He was an active member of the Methodist church and generously donated his time and money to causes he was passionate about including St. Judes Hospital and the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. He dedicated time to coaching his son’s baseball and basketball teams and served as guardian ad litem for foster youth.
After retirement, Roy served as a lay speaker at the Elgin Methodist church, a substitute teacher at Sudan High School, and was actively involved with the Osage Nation. He spent 20 years in Pawhuska as a cattle rancher where his grandchildren made amazing memories with him. In 2016, Roy and Sylvia moved to Texas to be closer to family.
Roy was a proud member of the Osage Nation and instilled in his children and grandchildren a deep pride for their Native heritage.
Roy was loved by everyone who knew him, and he never met a stranger. A phenomenal storyteller, he had a passionate and vibrant personality that inspired and engaged all who met him. Words cannot describe how much he will be missed.
“You are my sunshine.”
