Roy Alison Milbourne, 83, of Crisfield, Maryland, left this world peacefully on January 15, 2021.  A native of Crisfield, he was born on May 15, 1937 and was the son of the late Roy C. Milbourne and the late Eloise Bradshaw Milbourne of Crisfield.  He was a graduate of Crisfield High School in 1955, and a graduate of Salisbury State College in Salisbury (now Salisbury University) in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.  He would later go on to graduate from Appalachian State College (now Appalachian State University) in 1970 with a Master of Arts in Education, while also being admitted to the professional education fraternity Phi Delta Kappa at that time.

He began his working experience following his graduation from CHS at the Crisfield Times, and later took a position with the State of Maryland Unemployment Office (now the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation – Unemployment Insurance).  He resigned in 1960 to pursue his college education, and joined the Somerset County Board of Education as a middle school teacher in 1964, first teaching at Crisfield Elementary No. 3 and then at the newly integrated Woodson Junior High School (later Woodson Middle School).  In 1986, he was named Principal of Crisfield Elementary No. 1 (later H. DeWayne Whittington Primary School), where he served until his retirement in 1995.  He was known for his unique style of educating students, his various "props" (like "Big Bertha" or the "Board of Education") displayed in the classroom, his booming voice and comical statements ("I will give repeats (of questions), but I will not repeat the repeat!" was a common one), and the "taps" on his shoes, which could be heard coming down the hall, announcing his approach without saying a word.   This carried on from the classroom to the principal's office, and, even after his retirement, still drew smiles, laughs, and complimentary comments – even if, in later years, some faces and names were not quickly recalled due to time or the Alzheimer's dementia which he suffered from in his final years.

During his career, he also found time to serve as the head of TASCO (Teachers' Association of Somerset County), as a member of the Crisfield Rotary Club (serving as President in 1969-1970 and as secretary/treasurer in later years), and as a member, chaplain, and officer of the Crisfield Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #1044, of which he was a Life Member.  In addition, in 1987, he was appointed to serve as a member of the City Council of the City of Crisfield, Maryland.  He served until his term expired in June of 1990.

Following his retirement in 1995, he became active in many civic organizations.  He was a member of the Somerset County Chapter of the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), serving as an officer and President of the chapter for several years.  He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Edward W. McCready Foundation, which oversaw the operations of the McCready Hospital and Alice Byrd Tawes Nursing Home for several years, including a stint as the Vice Chairman during that time.  He was also a member of the Somerset County Retired Teachers Association and the Stanley Cochrane Post #16 of the American Legion.  He would also serve as a driver for both the Lower Somerset County Ambulance and Rescue Squad and the Veterans Administration, serving for several years as the Lower Shore Coordinator for the Veterans Van Service in this area. He was, at various times, a member of the Immanuel United Methodist Church, the Asbury United Methodist Church (serving in various positions including Lay Leader) as well as being a member at the time of his passing of the Faith Fellowship Assembly of God.  He also served for many years prior to the onset of his final illness as a volunteer in the Immanuel Church soup ministry and the First Baptist Church Thanksgiving dinner ministry.

He is survived by his son Stacey A. Milbourne of Crisfield.  Also surviving is his brother Thomas E. Milbourne and his wife Phyllis Hayden Milbourne of Summerville, SC; his sister in law Donna Parks of Salisbury, MD, and his cousins John Holland of Baltimore, MD, Faye Horner of Fenwick Island, DE, and William "Bill" Holland of Salisbury, MD.  He is also survived by his wonderful caretakers, without whom his last few years would have been unbearable:  Annette Morgan, Annette Payne, and Angela Horner Pendry of Crisfield as well as Joy Blades of Westover, MD.

Preceding him in death along with his mother and father was the love of his life Wanda Parks Milbourne, whom he married on June 20, 1959 and stayed happily married to until her passing on January 3, 2017.  In addition, he was predeceased by his mother and father-in-law Nellie C. and Allen N. Parks, his brother Michael C. Milbourne, his brother-in-law A. Asbury Parks, his aunt Elizabeth Holland and her husband Herbert "Tody" Holland, and his uncles Edwin W. Milbourne and Ronald C. Milbourne.

Services have been entrusted to the Bradshaw and Sons Funeral Home in Crisfield, MD.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, observations of his life will be limited to a graveside service which will occur on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 2 PM, at Sunnyridge Memorial Park

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wanda P. and Roy A. Milbourne Scholarship Fund, in care of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc., 1324 Belmont Avenue, Suite 401, Salisbury, MD  21804.

To send online condolences, please visit www.bradshawandsonsfuneralhome.com