Payne Gap Cemetery Directory

Roland Clarence Sperry (1922-2013)

Names Detail

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

Birth and Death

Birth Date

Death Date

Age at Death

Cemetery Location and Disposition

Cemetery Location

Disposition Type

Relationships to Others at the Cemetery

• Son of Ruby Pearl [Newton] Hunt (1900-1973)
• Stepbrother of JD Hunt (1925-2024)
• Stepbrother of Weldon Odell Hunt (1926-2007)

External Links

• Find A Grave

Military Service

S Sgt US Army Air Force, World War II

Notes

Born in Hugo, Oklahoma, to Ruby Pearl Newton (1900-1973) and Oscar Herbert Frederick Sperry (1902-1967).

Roland Clarence Sperry was born May 21, 1922, in Hugo, Oklahoma, to Robert C. Sperry and Ruby Newton Sperry, and passed away on January 20, 2013, in Garden Grove, California due to cardiomyopathy.

Roland was a veteran of World War II, having joined the US Air Corps in May 1943 while living in southern California, and served as a tail gunner on a B-24 bomber in the Pacific Theater. He received numerous medals, including a Purple Heart, Air Medal, and Distinguished Flying Cross for his service during WWII. Following an honorable discharge from military service in October 1945, he and his wife, Ovella, settled in the Los Angeles area where he lived for the remainder of his life.

Roland worked primarily in sales including furniture sales and automobile sales. Roland loved aviation and had a private pilot’s license. He enjoyed his role as an announcer and commentator at numerous air shows in southern California over the years.

Roland was preceded in death by parents Robert Clarence Sperry and Ruby Newton Sperry Hunt; brother Odell Hunt and wife Bea; wife Ovella; wife Enola; and great-grandson Alec Lewis.

He is survived by brother J.D. Hunt and wife Cleta of Star, Texas; children Diane Ekiss and husband Pat of Taylor, Texas, Ronald Knight and wife Kathy of Flower Mound, Texas, and Kathryn Jones and husband Dwight of Mesquite, Texas; 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins. He is also survived by 6 nephews and nieces, Darrell and Melynn Hunt of Lubbock, Texas; Robert Hunt of Star, Texas; Marvin and Sherre Hunt of Baytown, Texas, Will Hunt of Whitney, Texas, Alfred and Karen Hunt of Sweetwater, Texas and niece Evelyn Denese Friend of Dallas, Texas.

A graveside memorial service will be held on Friday March 8 at 10 a.m. at Payne Gap Cemetery of Mills County. Doyle Combs, pastor of Star Baptist Church, will officiate.

Obituary published in The Goldthwaite Eagle, March 6, 2013

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