Roy Kroll

CANFIELD - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Christine Church for Roy Howard Kroll, 93, who died Thursday evening at his home.

Roy was born April 7, 1920, in Fowler, the son of Ewald and Marjorie (Storier) Kroll.

He served our country during World War II in the Army Air Corps. He then attended Youngstown College (Youngstown State University), where he excelled as a member of its basketball team, graduating with a Bachelor's of Education degree. He later earned his Master's in Education from Westminster University.

Mr. Kroll had a long career as an educator and coach in the Youngstown City schools. He was the boys basketball coach at North High School (1947 to 1957), where he won two city championships. He also coached at West Junior High (1963 to 1978), and was the girls basketball coach at The Rayen School.

Roy was a member of Dom Rosselli's first Youngstown College basketball team and played for three seasons before World War II (1940-41 to 1942-43). He returned for the 1946-47 season and captained that team to the first post-season tournament, an NAIA berth against Arizona State. He was inducted into the Youngstown State University's Sports Hall of Fame and the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame for his athletic accomplishments and for mentoring student athletes. The Hall of Fame induction stated "Roy Kroll has contributed many times over to the community as an athlete, educator and coach. During his 38 years of teaching, he spent 27 of those roaming the sidelines as a basketball and baseball coach. He has demonstrated many times over the dedication, integrity and grace that a quality coach exemplifies."

Roy was a member of St. Christine Church and served as the first president of the school's PTA. He was also one of the founders of the St. Christine Golf League and coached summer league baseball.

He is survived by his wife, the former Mary Louise Pieper, whom he married April 17, 1943; two daughters, Marjorie Donahue of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. and Eileen (Richard) Haught of Canfield; two sons, Roy W. (Barbara Caccamo) Kroll of Ypsilanti, Mich. and William (Kim Whetstone) Kroll of North Olmsted; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Olive Reno.

The family has requested that material tributes take the form of donations to Hospice of the Valley in Roy's memory.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday evening at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel, and Tuesday morning from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service at St. Christine Church.