Roy A. Bullock

Roy Bullock, 88, of Mount Ayr, formerly of Creston, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, at Clearview Home in Mount Ayr. A Celebration of Life Service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. Pastor Mary Ann O’Riley will officiate. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, south of Creston. The military flag presentation will be provided by the Theodore J. Martens V.F.W. Post 1797. Open visitation, with the family receiving friends, will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., prior to the service.

Memorials can be directed to the First United Methodist Church in Creston. Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.

Roy Alonzo Bullock was born July 27, 1935, the son of William Sidney Bullock and Frances Fannie (Parker) Bullock near Redding in Ringgold County. As a child, he lived in Diagonal. During his sophomore year (1953), he won and set a record for the mile run at the Class C Boys Indoor Track and Field State Championship. He went on to place third at the Drake Relays.

The family moved to Creston his junior year of high school. Roy was an excellent athlete, lettering in track, baseball and basketball. He graduated from Creston in 1955 and attended Creston Community College.

On Nov. 3, 1957, Roy was united in marriage to Norma Jean Clayton at the First Christian Church in Creston. Shortly after they married, Roy was drafted by the Army. He served two years in the Army, where he was selected to play on the Army basketball team and entertain the troops.

After receiving an honorable discharge, he began working for the Burlington Northern Railroad. He spent most of his working life working as a locomotive engineer and as a farmer east of Creston. In July 1996, Roy retired from the railroad. One of his favorite stories was when he drove the Pioneer Zephyr on its final run between Lincoln, Nebraska, and Creston. It then traveled to its final resting place at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois.

Roy was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Creston, Theodore J. Martens V.F.W. Post 1797, past president and member of the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railroad Employees (N.A.R.V.R.E.), past president of the local Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and served two terms on the Creston Community School District Board of Education.

Roy is survived by his children, Mike Bullock of Blockton and Cindy (Randy) Spurr of Norwalk; a brother, Paul (Linda) Bullock of Columbia, Tennessee; sister, Paulette (Bob) Brotherton of Billings, Montana; four grandchildren: Alex, Christina, Zachary and Nathan and four great-grandchildren.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, William and Frances Bullock; wife, Norma Bullock; sisters, Lanore Ireland and Billie Embree and brother, Larry Bullock.