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Janice "Kay" Roxby made her final journey to the house of the Lord on March 14, 2024. She was born on July 26, 1935, to Rex Ray Cook and Joyce (Young) Cook, at the Ohio Valley Hospital. She grew up in Valley Grove and resided at the first house on Battle Run. She attended Valley Grove Grade School and Triadelphia High School. She worked for the Stone & Thomas Store in Wheeling. Her happiest childhood memories came from the summers she spent at the farm of her grandfather, Isaac Young, surrounded by a host of aunts, uncles and cousins as WWII raged on. That favorite home was located on Pleasant Ridge in Marshall County.
She married Eugene Willard Roxby in 1952 while he was still serving in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict. The bulk of their married years were spent living on Mount Wood Road in Wheeling, WV. Again, she was quite fortunate to be surrounded by cousins, in this case the Olinski family who lived down the street. Sweetening the situation, her best friend, Jean Schultz, lived just down the hill from her. Those days were financially very lean times for everyone involved. Still, everyone seemed to be in and out of each other's houses, and there was a sense of happiness and communal belonging. That feeling somewhat defies description, but everyone who experienced those days never forgot them. Even as her memory failed her in old age, Kay Roxby swore those were the happiest days of her life. Though not a Catholic, she was a part of the Sacred Heart School PTA and a piano player for the Men's Minstrel practice sessions.
Music was a key focus in Kay's life and was certainly her ministry with God. She started as a teenage organist for the Assembly of God in Valley Grove. Later she played up and down the valley at various churches, covering everything from Pentecostal to Catholic, black and white, and some mainline Protestant ones tossed in for good measure. Her personal favorite was Black Gospel.
Kay stepped lightly into eternity at Wheeling Hospital, with family and her best friend of over seven decades, Jean Schultz, at her side. Hollywood could scarcely have scripted a more beautiful ending.
The family wishes to extend their deepest thanks to Fr. Bakhos Chidiac and Rev. Ron Wilfong, who prayed for her in her final hours. They also wish to thank the staff of Good Shepherd and in particular to Debbie, Kelly, Stephanie, and Bo and the other nurses and aides on 2 Center, who treated her like family.
Kay is survived by sons Joseph (Judy) and John Roxby, grandsons Joe and David (Dr. Tiffany) Roxby, Jim (Alexis) Fisher, and brother-in-law John (Barbara) Roxby. A Memorial Gathering for Kay will take place on Thursday, March 21, from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Altmeyer Funeral Homes-Wheeling Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial, officiated by Msgr. Bakhos Chidiac, will commence at 10:00 am on Friday, March 22, at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church followed by a Mercy Meal. Inurnment for Kay is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Friday, March 22, at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
Memories and condolences may be offered to the Roxby family at https://altmeyerfuneralhomes.com.