Justin Roa, 88, of Liberal, passed away on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the Liberal Good Samaritan Center.
Justin was born in Aspermont, Texas on April 14, 1932, to Ramón Roa and Guadalupe López Roa.
He spent his youth in Aspermont with his 17 brothers and sisters. He loved music and taught himself how to play the guitar as a teenager and created his first band by the age of 17. He married Wanda Jane Whitaker on January 17, 1953 and was drafted into the US Army in September 1953.
Justin was a body and fender man for many years working at Hood Chevrolet Buick and Easley’s Bodyshop. He ran his own wrecker service for years with his German Shepherd sidekick, Silver, along for his night runs. But his greatest love was playing music with his bands over the years. He played country and western dances all up and down the region around SW Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. He was very proud of his band the Rhythm Ramblers, previously known as the Panhandle Ramblers, and was booked for dances most weekends during the height of his music career during the 60s thru the 80s. He was a frequent performer at Pioneer Days in Guymon, OK for many years.
Justin was a happy, friendly man who loved God. One of his many ‘Justinisms’ was “me and God, we’re tight”. He loved his family, music and Cadillacs. He also loved babies, small animals, especially his dogs, kittens and birds, and had many bird feeders that he filled every day,
Justin is survived by his wife, Wanda, of Liberal, KS,his daughters Lynda (Don) Moeller of Loveland, CO and Debbie (Tony) of Dill City, OK and son Terry (Tressa) of Liberal, KS. He is also survived by his sister Ramona Behne (Bob) of Guymon, OK, and brothers Robert of Pueblo, CO, Joe of Ft Worth, TX, Carmen of Lubbock, TX, Wally (Donna) of Texarkana, TX and Jesse (Sophie) of Lubbock, TX, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, baby Luis who died shortly after birth, his sisters Betty Ramirez of Guymon, OK, Mary DeLeón of Aspermont, TX, Florencia Rivera of Tahoka, TX, Asunción (Chona)Salazar of Aspermont, TX, Aurelia (Tex) Grove of Guymon, OK, and brothers John of Lawton, OK, Isaac of Alamogordo, NM, Pedro (Pete) of Amarillo, TX, Tibuercio (TL) of Rotan, TX, and Tony of Aspermont, TX. He was also preceded in death by his son Steve and his daughter-in-law Melania of Liberal.
There will be no public viewing or visitation.
Graveside Services will be 2:00 PM Wednesday, October 28th at the Liberal Cemetery.
Miller Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.