Roy Eldon Newberg

Roy Eldon Newberg, 82, of Amarillo died on May 1, 2022.  A memorial service will be Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. at the Blanton House at High Plains Children’s Home, 11462 S. Western St., Amarillo, TX  79118.

Roy was born August 4, 1939, in Visalia, CA, the second of two children, to Robert and Alberta Newberg.  He grew up in California, Washington, and U

tah.  After graduating high school, Roy joined the Air Force where he served as an airplane mechanic.  During his time in the Air Force, he did tours in Japan and the Philipines.  After leaving the Air Force, he moved to Denton, TX to attend the University of North Texas and study psychology.

While in college, he met the love of his life, Marie, on a blind date through mutual friends.  They dated for two years before marrying in Carlsbad on November 25, 1960.  After they married, Roy and Marie lived in Denton while he continued his education.  Over the next few years, they moved from Denton to Albuquerque to Shiprock to Nespelium, Washington before settling in Farmington, NM, where they lived for 27 years.

Every time they moved, Roy and Marie’s first priority was to find a church home.  Roy had a strong faith in Jesus, and he loved serving in the church.  His desire for serving and being active in a church family led him into many different leadership roles.  He served as an Elder for many years at Northside Church of Christ in Farmington.

Roy worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as a social worker for over 25 years helping families on Indian reservations in New Mexico and Washington.  After the BIA, Roy worked for the State of New Mexico Juvenile Probation Department.  Roy’s career was focused on supporting families, helping people in need, and working with troubled youth.

After retirement,

Roy and Marie moved to Carlsbad for twelve years to help take care of Marie’s mother, then moved to Amarillo in 2008, where Roy lived until his death.  They found a wonderful church family at Southwest Church of Christ where they could worship and serve.  Roy drove cars for a local car dealership delivering them all over the Panhandle, Texas, and any place they wanted him to go.  He loved driving those cars!

Roy enjoyed cars and car races.  Going to the Route 66 Motor Speedway in Amarillo was one of his favorite activities on Saturday nights during the racing season, especially when his granddaughter, Lauren, would join him.  He watched a lot of Nascar and was always up on which car model was dominating.  Roy loved playing cards.  He played in Bridge groups with Marie, and countless family games of Liverpool Rummy or Hand and Foot.  He was an unconventional player and usually frustrated the other players with his interesting style which made him impossible to second-guess.  Roy was also known for his prolific storytelling and unusual factoids that he uncovered.  One of his favorite parting comments that will always be a memory for his grandchildren was “I’ll see you in the funny papers!” He loved people and never met a stranger.  Whether it was a dear friend at church or a waitress at a restaurant, he always had a kind word and a teasing joke.

Roy is survived by a daughter Kayla Wimberley and husband John of Amarillo, TX; a son Eric Newberg and wife Kristine of Edmond, OK; grandchildren, Isaac Wimberley and wife Kayla of Lubbock, TX; Meredith Tanner and husband Blake of Temple, TX; Lauren Strickland and husband Dave of Lubbock, TX; Tanna Giles and husband Blake of Charlotte, NC; Bradyn Newberg of Edmond, OK; great-grandchildren Sawyer and Asher Wimberley, and Oliver Strickland.

He is preceded in death by his wife Marie Newberg and brother Robert Newberg.

The family suggests memorials be made to High Plains Children’s Home, PO Box 7448, Amarillo, Texas 79114.

Online condolences may be shared at www.boxwellbrothers.com.