Roy M. Conrad Jr.

Published 10:06 am Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Roy M. Conrad, Jr., 96, died Thursday, October 11 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Columbus, N.C.

Born in Moline, IL, he was the son of the late Roy M. Conrad, Sr., and Mabel (Edwards) Conrad of Moline.

Roy achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts of America, and was later awarded the Boy Scout’s highest award of Silver Beaver. In 1943 Roy received a B.S. degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Illinois. He was president of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. Roy met Phyllis Carter at Illinois. They married in 1944. 

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Roy was a World War II veteran. Following graduation he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as a commissioned officer and served as an aircraft engineer until receiving an honorable discharge in 1946. He terminated military service as a first lieutenant.

In 1946 Roy joined Beiling Engineering Consultants in Moline. In 1947 he moved to Peoria, IL where he established and managed a second Beiling office. While in Peoria Roy and Phyllis raised their family of three sons and a daughter. He was active in many local and Illinois societies and agencies, including Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers, American Institute of Architects, Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Business Officials, Boy Scouts Council, American Red Cross, United Way, Cancer Society, and Heart Fund. In 1975 he was named “Engineer of the Year” by both the Peoria Area Chapter of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and the Peoria Engineering Council. He also served as president of Mt. Hawley Country Club.

In 1978 Roy moved back to Moline as President and CEO of Beiling. In Moline he served as president of the Chamber of Commerce of Upper Rock Island County, chairman of the fund raising drive for the Moline Public Library, chairman of the Quad-City Council of Chamber Presidents, a member of the board of directors of Quad-City Development Group, Junior Achievement, the Illowa Council of Boy Scouts of America and First Federal Savings of Moline. He also chaired Moline School District’s referendum steering committee.

Roy retired from Beiling in 1988.

Roy and Phyllis moved to Boynton Beach, FL in 1988 and then to Connestee Falls, NC in 1996. He served on the Board at Connestee Falls and on several Connestee Falls committees. In 2005 they moved to Tryon Estates, NC. Roy served on numerous committees at Tryon Estates.

Roy was an avid golfer, fisherman, and an accomplished painter.

Surviving are three sons Jeff (Mary) of Houston, TX, Jim (Cathie) of The Villages, FL, Bruce (Pu) of Thailand, and a daughter Sarah (Brad) Snow of Greeley, CO. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 22, 2018 in the Dining Room at Tryon Estates in Columbus, NC with Chaplin Kevin Lynch and Dr. Charles Drawdy officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Debra Foundation, 75 Broad St. Suite 300, New York, NY 10004.

An online guest register may be signed at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Tryon