Roy Donald Montgomery “Don”, of Richland, passed away at home on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, just two days shy of his 81st birthday.
Don was born in New Albany, on August 26, 1941, to Roy Franklin and Katherine (Scherer) Montgomery.
He grew up in Grandview and graduated from Rockport High School in 1959, with 59 in the Rockport Zebra’s class.
After graduation, Don went to Louisville, Kentucky’s General Hospital School of Radiology Technology and graduated in 1961. After graduation, he was hired as a supervisor at the school for three years. Afterward, he went on to learn the service side of x-ray equipment and studied under Mr. Skip Lyons of Louisville, Kentucky, going on to work for Mr. Lyons’ company for eight years.
Don was drafted into the United States Army for two years, serving as a specialist in radio-teletype communication for the Army Security Agency in Kassel, Germany and Fort Carson, Colorado.
After discharge from the Army, he returned to Louisville and worked again for H.L. Lyons Company. He attended the University of Louisville and obtained his B.S. degree in management. In 1973, he accepted a job at Welborn Baptist Hospital in Evansville, as chief tech in radiology and later worked as an assistant hospital administrator over several areas, including radiology and cardiology. He received the coveted Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1988 from Indiana Governor Robert Orr for his Humanity in Living, his Loyalty in Friendship, his Wisdom in Counsel, and his Inspiration in Leadership.
He retired from Welborn Hospital in 1992 and worked for an x-ray company for five years and the Soil and Water Conservation Office then finally came back to his farming operation, where he spent the rest of his life enjoying and caring for his cattle, cleaning and restoring vehicles, driving his tractors, building fences, mowing grass, riding in his Gator, and hobbies to include woodworking, and snow skiing,– just working hard and enjoying life.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Roy and Katherine; his brother, Dean; his sister, Francis Ann; his in-laws, Emerson and Ina Mae Roth; and his son-in-law, Mark Cowans.
Surviving are his wife, Mellodee; his children, Rod Montgomery (Paula), Tonia Ambs (Brandon McCoy) and Tanya Cowans; his grandchildren, Ella and Claire Montgomery, Jed, Casex and MaeLee Ambs, Sadie McCoy Wyatt, Mellodee and Sofia Cowans; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, September 2, at Boultinghouse Funeral Home in Rockport, with Steve Mead officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Richland.
Visitation is from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Friday, September 2, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Spencer County Ambulance Service and /or Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.
Friends may send a condolence to the family at www.BoultinghouseFuneralHome.com.
