Our beloved father, Nick Royal, passed away on Aug. 10, 2017, (which happened to be the 75th Anniversary of the opening of Tooele Army Depot.) in Tooele, Utah. Nick was born on July 23, 1930, in Magna, Utah, to Harry Royal (Roilos) and Mary Lexis Royal.
Nick was one of eight siblings. He grew up and lived in Magna, Utah, and attended Cyprus High School.
Nick married Barbara Tanner Jorgensen on Dec. 8, 1950. They recently celebrated 66 years of marriage and together raised three children: Paul, Nikki and Ellen.
Nick worked at Tooele Army Depot for 25 years before transferring to Ft. Monmouth Army Depot in New Jersey. His 25-year career at TAD included many assignments, including his last position as packaging specialist.
Nick was a very patriotic man. He was honored when he was selected by the depot to go to Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam, for a packaging/preservation shipping problem. His expertise saved the Army several million dollars. He was proud to do his part for his country.
In 1991, Nick and his family moved to California where he worked for Defense Contract Administration Services (DCAS) and the Air Force, retiring in 1985. Throughout his career as a packaging specialist, Nick was recognized numerous times for his performance and innovative ideas. His paper and presentation on “Containerization” in 1968 helped usher in wider use of cargo containers for supplying our Armed Forces.
Nick worked for the Federal Government for 36 years.
Following his retirement, Nick was hired as a consultant for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace in Los Angeles, California. Before the year was through, he was re-hired on a part-time basis to join a government team, performing inspections at various aerospace facilities throughout the U.S. His packaging experience was needed to complete the team.
He and Barbara moved from California to Washington state, where they enjoyed living for 19 years. In 2008, Nick and Barbara moved back to the Salt Lake City area and in Dec. 2014, they returned to Tooele, Utah, where they had lived many years ago.
Nick had a strong faith in God and was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Salt Lake City. Nick loved his wife and family very much.
Through the years, our dad enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, boating, camping, playing cards and he especially loved to sing. He thoroughly enjoyed playing and teaching bridge and pinochle. He loved playing pinochle throughout his life and wanted all of his grandkids to learn to play.
He also enjoyed traveling, but he especially treasured their trip to Greece in 1971, as he was very proud of his Greek heritage and yearned to visit the homeland where his immigrant parents were born and to visit with relatives still living there.
His laugh and his amusing stories were entertaining to all. It didn’t matter how many times he told us the same stories, they were always enjoyable. Our dad maintained three very strong principles throughout his life: love of God, family and his country.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, and he was loved by many. Whether you called him Nick, dad, grandpa, papou, pops, papa or papouli, his absence here on earth will be a great loss to all, but will be a great treasure to those who were awaiting his presence in the Kingdom of Heaven.
He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. Nick leaves behind his wife, Barbara, son Paul Royal and daughters Nikki (Arvel) Royal-Dees, and Ellen (Gregg) Royal-Ward.
He is also survived by many wonderful grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild, all whom he loved, cherished and of whom he was so very proud. Nick is also survived by his sister, Georgia Royal Hardy. Nick was preceded in death by his father, Harry Royal (Roilos); mother Mary Lexis Royal; son John Royal; brothers: Harry, Frank, Chris and Gus Royal; sisters Kathryn Royal Roberts and Thelma Royal Freeman; grandson Michael Royal; and great-granddaughter Taylor Leuk.
A funeral service honoring his life will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 279 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held on Wednesday evening, Aug. 16, 2017, from 6-8 p.m. at Tate Mortuary, 110 S. Main Street, Tooele, Utah. Interment will be at Tooele City Cemetery at 361 S. 100 East.
The family would like to thank all the healthcare workers who helped Nick in the last year, including those at Rocky Mountain Care, Canyon Home Care and Hospice, Home Instead and Mountain West Medical Center. Many of these people showed such love and compassion and became dear friends. We are so very grateful for your kindness.
May his memory be eternal.