Roe Wayne Sledge

Roe Wayne Sledge

1932-2017

A memorial service for Roe Wayne “Big Daddy” Sledge, of Terrell, formerly of Wills Point, will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at First Baptist Church in Terrell.

Mr. Sledge went peacefully to be with the Lord at age 84.

He was born in Wills Point Oct. 16, 1932, to Sterling Emmett and Julia Mae Sledge. He grew up in Wills Point and Dallas. He married Elizabeth Charlyne Rankin, daughter of Joe Maxie and Mattie Lu Rankin of Wills Point, Feb. 1, 1953.

During high school, he was the kicker on the football team and center on the basketball team. After a time at Henderson County Junior College, owning a service station with his brother, and living in Tyler, Garland and Mesquite, the Sledges settled in Plano in 1963, where they lived for 22 years.

He worked in the motor freight industry for over 30 years in Dallas. He continued playing basketball for church teams and loved to bowl. He spent much of his off time, especially in the spring and summer months, repairing, remodeling and maintaining the neighborhood swimming pool. He volunteered thousands of hours during two decades of service to his community to ensure that neighborhood children had a top-notch, safe place to spend summer days and a warm atmosphere for families to gather and build a strong sense of unity, but his family was first and foremost. His top priority was supporting whatever the kids were into at the time, and making sure that his family was happy and healthy. In their later years, the Sledges moved back to the small-town environment of Terrell and to be closer to their families in Wills Point.

He loved to restore and refinish antique furniture as a master carpenter and craftsman, as well as work on cars as an accomplished mechanic. A devoted fan of John Wayne, and his namesake by his mother that he passed on to his kids, he exemplified a lot of the same traits of hard work, independence, ruggedness, forthrightness, tenderness and a quiet love for family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Truman Sledge of Wills Point.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Charlyne; son, Maxie Wayne Sledge; daughter, Julia Lu Rosol and husband, Joe; six grandchildren, Mandy Howard, Ashley Thieman and husband, Ben, Chelsea Sledge, Haley Sledge, Meredith Vance and husband, Steve, Michael Rosol and wife, Lara; eight great-grandchildren, Mason Wayne, Jackson Joseph, Maddison Julia, Colton Neal, Taylor, Kaitlyn, Bode and Mees; sister, Sandra Baumann; brother, Lindy Lee Sledge; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.