Obituary of John Emory Roe Jr.

John Emory Roe Jr, 85 of Arlington VA passed away on July 25^th 2019. Friends always knew him as Jack.

Born on September 23^rd 1933 he was proceeded in death (2006) by his beloved wife of 51 years Diane A Taylor Roe.

Jack grew up primarily in Utah. He attended the University of Utah where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Stanford University where he obtained a Master’s degree in Political Science/Latin America specialization. He joined the Navy where he was commissioned as an Ensign in 1955. He served in the Navy for the next 30 years, with tours of duty in the Washington DC area, numerous places in California; Hawaii, Canada and Vietnam. He served on many of the Navy’s finest ships and had Command of several, including the USS Savage, USS Edison and USS Vulcan. He retired in 1985 as a Captain.

Once retired, Jack turned his attention to lots of traveling with his family, especially cruises.  He was super interested in gardening and became a Master Gardner He was a member (some years a board member) for the Potomac Lily Society and the Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society, and served a term on the Board of the National Lily Society. He won literally hundreds of blue ribbons for his lilies, and his yard was much admired and photographed.

Jack is survived by daughter and son in law Jody and Tom Rametta of Herndon; daughter and daughter in law Shelley Roe and Donna Milne of Warrenton; granddaughter Nicole Rametta of Herndon and grandson Alex Rametta of Ashburn. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday January 29^th 2020 at 11am. 

 Jack was fortunate that he had the means to donate to causes that were important to him: the ASPCA and numerous animal charities, Planned Parenthood and the National Democratic Party. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to any of these places.