Victor L. "Roy" Gollhofer, of Sarcoxie, Mo., departed this life at 11:10 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, 2008, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., at the age of 87 years, 9 months and 26 days. Roy entered this life on June 4, 1920, in rural Sarcoxie, born to the late Victor and Mary Isabelle (Carmichael) Gollhofer. Roy was a lifelong area resident of Sarcoxie. From Sept. 8, 1942 to Sept. 7, 1945, he served his country faithfully in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. His military decorations included 4 Bronze Stars for Air Offensive Campaigns in Europe, Normandy, Rhineland and North France, an Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. After his honorable discharge he returned to Sarcoxie, and on June 29, 1951, he was united in marriage to Mildred Denney and to this union two daughters and one son were born. Prior to his World War II service, Roy was a painter at the Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He began his own construction business that built homes throughout the Jasper County area and was a lifelong rancher on his farm. Roy received his teacher certification as a master carpenter from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. He then shared his incredible talent as a teacher of building trades at the Sarcoxie High School in the 1970s and 1980s. Roy was a devoted member of the Sarcoxie Chapter Lions Club with over 53 years of loyal service. He held all officer positions including president, secretary and treasurer. Roy was also a volunteer firefighter and acted as the fire chief for several years. He was an organizer of the Chief Sarcoxie Days and was the honorary chief Sarcoxie in 1984 and 2001. Roy was active in the American Legion Sarcoxie Chapter and was a vital part of the growth and success of the Sarcoxie area. He accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church. Roy was a wonderful husband and father. He dedicated his life and talents to the betterment of his family and community. Roy led a life of devotion to both his country and to the people he loved. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by all his family and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Elizabeth Palmer and Adabelle Lancaster; and two brothers, Richard Gollhofer and James Gollhofer. Roy is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Mildred Gollhofer, of the home; two daughters, Melody Anne Boatright and husband, Mike, of Lenexa, Kan., and Vickie Jean McLaughlin and husband, John, of Greenwood, Mo.; a son, Victor Roy Gollhofer and wife, Chong Hui, of Fort Riley, Kan.; two grandchildren, Johnny McLaughlin and Isabel Gollhofer; two brothers, Ray Gollhofer and wife, Frankie, of Sarcoxie, and Paul Gollhofer and wife, Mary, of Carl Junction, Mo.; two sisters-in-law, Eula Gollhofer, of Joplin, and Lila Gollhofer of Granby, Mo.; two brothers-in-law, Dale Palmer, of Tampa Bay, Fla., and Leslie Denney, of Crestwood, Mo.; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other family and friends. Funeral services for Victor L. "Roy" Gollhofer are 10 a.m. Friday, April 4, at the First Baptist Church in Sarcoxie, with Brother Sam Wilson officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Sarcoxie Cemetery. Paul Gollhofer, Ray Gollhofer, Richard Boyd, Harry Carmichael, Frank Carmichael and Jess Bair will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home Chapel in Sarcoxie. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website housh-goodwinfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, memorials are being directed to the First Baptist Church and contributions may be left at the funeral home. Arrangements have been entrusted to the personal care and direction of the Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home in Sarcoxie.