Willard's Obituary
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Willard Ethredge Roe, 87, of Winter Haven, passed away on Saturday, October 28, 2006 at his home. Born May 15, 1919, to William G. Roe and Rosa Ethredge Roe, he was a native of Winter Haven, graduating from WHHS in 1937. He went on to attend Princeton University, where he graduated with a degree in political science in 1941.
Mr. Roe immediately entered the Army as a lieutenant, training at Fort Carson, Colorado. From Fort Carson, his battalion went to train at Camp Hale near Vail, Colorado, where he and the 10th Mountain Division entered the WWII European theatre and moved artillery by mule over the Italian Alps. He was stationed in Italy and France throughout the war and honorably discharged at war’s end as a lieutenant colonel.
Willard and his brother Fred transformed their father’s citrus business into Wm. G. Roe & Sons, a worldwide packer, shipper and marketer of high quality specialty citrus products; the firm is still active today.
Mr. Roe was chairman of The Florida Club, president of Florida Citrus Showcase, president of Florida Citrus Production Managers, founding member and second Commodore of Lake Region Yacht and Country Club. He also served on the board of Winter Haven Hospital, chairman and board member of Cypress Gardens Citrus Products, president of Citrus Products Association, and chairman and board member of Growers Fertilizer for numerous years. He also served on the board of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame, where he was honored for his lifetime achievements in 1992.
He is preceded in death by his daughter, Marjorie Rosemary Roe, 1959-1986. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Marjorie Henderson Roe, of Winter Haven, six children, Ellen Roe Miller of Winter Haven, Donna Daniell of Boulder, Colorado, William Gee Roe II, Martha Roe Burke and Quentin James Roe, of Winter Haven, and Morgan Henderson Roe of Tijuana, Mexico; 13 grandchildren; a niece, Constance Roe McQuarry, of Daytona, a nephew Jess Brewer, of Vancouver, B.C., and extended family and friends.
Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven. The family will receive friends for visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1 at Crisp Koon Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions to support Willard E. Roe’s commitment to the Florida citrus industry can be made to the University of Florida Foundation, “Willard E. Roe Recognition Fund”, and should be forwarded to: UF, IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred, FL, 33850.
