Volunteer, historian who wrote 3 books on Des Allemands history passes away

When Roy Lunk retired after a 37-year career with Texaco, he was just getting started.

In retirement, Roy wrote three books on local Des Allemands history, published a cookbook with his award-winning Catfish Festival recipes, served on the board of the St. Charles Parish TRIAD, joined the Council on Aging, and was a member of the St. Gertrude Pastoral Council. He also planned a Des Allemands, Bayou Gauche and Paradis Museum, and he taught himself how to craft fishing lures, artwork and gifts. In 2020, he was King of the Krewe of Des Allemands. His wife, Patsye Vial Lunk, was queen.

Chris Lunk, Roy’s son, said Roy never stopped.

“When he retired that just meant he quit working for Texaco Pipeline, that did not mean he stopped working,” Chris said. “He had a tremendous work ethic, so he had to stay active doing something.”

Roy died Saturday, Dec. 21 at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife, three children, and six stepchildren. He was a grandfather and a great-grandfather.

Chris described his dad as hardworking and giving. He said his dad was never one to talk about the challenges he faced or focus on the negatives.

“He always focused on the positives,” Chris said.

He said some of the best memories he had of his dad were days they spent fishing together.

“We would fish in one of the best places I’ve ever fished in my life –  Pillottown.” Chris said. “We’d tell camping stories, and we’d wake and go fishing. I’d call it catching because it was so easy to catch fish out there with him. I learned so much out there about ships and riverboat pilots.”

Roy’s grandfather was a boatbuilder, and Roy sometimes worked with his grandfather at the Des Allemands shipyard, Chris said.

“He loved anything to do with boats because of his grandfather’s shipyard and what he learned from his grandfather,” Chris said. “He dedicated two of his books to his grandfather.”

Chris said his dad had a tremendous sense of pride in his volunteer work.

“He put 110 percent into everything,” Chris said. “He liked the relationships and friendships he developed in every one of those organizations.”

Roy was a socially quiet person, but he could make friends with anyone, Chris said.

“To friends and people in the community, he could be extremely outgoing,” Chris said. “That part of his personality was extroverted.”

Chris said Roy was thankful for the St. Charles Parish community.

“One of his wishes – just six or seven months ago when I was taking him home from the hospital – was that he was really thankful for all the people in the community who influenced his life,” Chris said. “I think he’d want to give a big thank you.”