Roy Albert Peloquin

Roy Albert Peloquin was born on July 12, 1934 in Harvey, Illinois, to Albert Thomas Peloquin and Ruth Louise Wildman. He was of French-Canadian decent. Roy grew up in Homewood, Illinois and attended St. Joseph School where he completed his elementary course of study on June 6, 1947. Roy was a very bright student, who was promoted to fourth grade from Grade 2. Roy attended Thornton Township High School where he graduated on August 31, 1951. Roy was accepted at the University of Illinois’s Pharmacy School, Chicago the same year. He became a registered pharmacist in Illinois and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy on June 17, 1955.

After graduation, Roy began to work at Beecher Pharmacy in Illinois. In 1964, he partnered with Donald Vaught, RPh. and opened “Crete Pharmacy” located on Main Street in Create, Illinois. Roy was the store’s manager from 1964 – 1999 when it closed. The store had 20 employees and unlike other drug stores of the time, Roy’s store carried cosmetics, gifts, seasonal novelties, plants, candies, and later became the center for Precious Moments collectibles. Roy provided customers with outstanding service with a dependable smile and hospitable spirit.

In December 1999, Roy was honored by the Crete Chamber of Commerce for his dedication and service to the community. He was presented with a memorable portrait of himself at the store along with a plaque stating the community’s appreciation for his exceptional service as a pharmacist.

Roy loved to travel, both in the United States and internationally. Although he traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, his favorite destinations were New Orleans, Montreal, Canada, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Alaska, and Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Roy enjoyed his retirement years, dividing his time between La Jolla, CA and Kailua-Kona, the Big Island of Hawaii. Roy was a regular volunteer at Mama’s Kitchen in San Diego, CA from 2000-2013, delivering meals to the HIV/AIDS and cancer patients. Roy was a very generous man who both sponsored charity organizations and donated to many causes, such as the American Cancer Society, AIDS foundation of Chicago, Smile Train (children born with a cleft palate), Blue Cap Illinois (serving both children & adult with intellectual disabilities), Hadley Institute of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and School Sisters of St. Francis.

Roy passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at his favorite home in La Jolla, CA at the age of 84. Roy had a heroic fighting spirit. His battle with Parkinson’s and Dementia was fought with dignity. He suffered silently with humility and the acceptance that mirrored Christ’s suffering on the cross. Roy leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness and is survived by his other half and best friend, Dr. John Bosco Tuptip Bunrasi, Ed.D., as well as his closest cousins, Rita George of Fresno, CA and Catherine Santi (Kay) of Greenwood, IN. Roy was preceded in death by his father, Albert Thomas Peloquin, and mother, Ruth Louise Wildman.