Roy Ellsworth Zimmerman was born Thursday, February 28, 1918 in Wooster, Ohio .
he died Monday, August 14, 2017. his recorded age was 99.
he was a veteran of the Army and served in World War II.
Roy Ellsworth Zimmerman, age 99 of Columbus, died Monday August 14, 2017 in Columbus. He was born in Wooster, Ohio on February 29, 1918 to the late Cleve and Floy (Lehr) Zimmerman. He grew up in New Pittsburg, Ohio with brothers Chester L and Russell G Zimmerman and his sisters Edith Crooks, Freda Swineford, and Ruby VanZile, who all proceeded him in death.
He was a graduate of the Ohio State University, in Ag Econ, member of the Alpha Zeta Fraternity, National Centennial Honor Roll, and Alumni House Father, and a proud member of the OSU Alumni Association.
During WWII, Roy was a 1st Lieutenant, US Army, in the Alaska Theatre, constructing the AL-CAN Highway.
In 1944, he married Katherine Ruth Green, his wife of 63 years. He treasured his family and was devoted to his wife, Kaye, until her death in 2007. Surviving are his daughter Sandra (Peter) Johnson of Aspen, Colorado, sons David (Linda) Zimmerman, of The Woodlands, Texas, and Mark (Marguerite) Zimmerman of Columbus; grandchildren Lauren (Mark) Cornish, David (Carmen) Zimmerman Jr., Carrie (Keith) Centner, and Ashley Zimmerman; and great-grandchildren Diego and Adriana Zimmerman, Sam Cornish, and Ava Centner.
Roy’s career included 10 years as the Assistant Director of Agriculture (Ohio), during the James Rhoads Administration. Previously, he was the General Manager of Federated Egg & Poultry Sales. He later spent 15 years assisting the farmers he knew with farm sales.
He was a 67 year member of the North Community Lutheran Church, where he was a Senior Elder and the Chairperson of the Friendship Group. He was a 50+ year member of the Columbus Northern Lions Club, where he was a Melvin Jones Fellow.
He loved to work in his gardens, his woodshop, take driving trips through rural Ohio, travel with his wife and family, make ice cream and do chicken BBQs. Always with a twinkle in his eye and a ready laugh he quietly and unselfishly loved doing for other people.
A Memorial Service celebrating Roy’s life will be held at the North Community Lutheran Church, 114 Morse Road, Columbus Ohio 43214 on Saturday September 9, 2017 at 11:00 am with a reception following.
Condolences to www.rutherfordfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to his church, Lutheran Family Services, or a charity of choice, in Roy’s memory. RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME in charge of arrangements.