Roy Edward Maggard, 82, of rural Columbia City, died peacefully surrounded by his family at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Parkview Whitley Hospital, where he was admitted the previous day.

Born on December 14, 1939, in Lechter County, Kentucky, he was a son of the late James Irvin Maggard and Ethel (Sturgill) Maggard. He completed his schooling in Lechter County.

On July 1, 1957, he married Esther Frances Scheckler. They have always made their home in Whitley County.

For 35 years, he worked for the Briggs Fertilizer facility on State Road 9, now part of Ag Plus, Inc.

An outdoorsman, he liked to fish, hunt, and camp. At home, he enjoyed feeding and watching the wild birds. Through the years, he collected and traded pocket knives.

Surviving is his wife of sixty-five years, Esther; two children, Jeffrey (Karen) Maggard and Sherri L (Gregorio Martinez) Johnson, both of Warsaw; grandchildren, Christopher Johnson, Melony (James) Miller, and Meagan (Matt) Pontius; seven great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Roy was the last surviving of eight children. He was preceded in death by brothers Henry, Elbert, James, and Delbert Maggard; sisters Hazel Day, Pearl Gibson, and Opel Goldwood.

The funeral service is 3 p.m. Tuesday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is at the Nolt Cemetery. Visitation is 1 p.m. until the service Tuesday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials in Roy's honor are to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana.