Joseph Roy Bancroft, 85, a resident of Fairhope, died Saturday, June 4, 2005 at a local hospital. He was born Oct 2, 1919, in Pensacola, FL to Ernest Loomis Bancroft and Utha Lee Bancroft.

He was educated in Paducah, KY and Pensacola and in 1979 received a BS in education at Athens State College.

He served in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific as a radio operator during World War II and in the Korean War at Breckley Air Force Base, Mobile. He retired from the USAF as a Master Sergeant.

He worked as a police dispatcher and radio maintenance supervisor for the City of Mobile Police Department and as an Electronics Instructor at Southwest - State Technical Institute.

After retiring to Fairhope he became active in the Thomas Hospital Medical Auxiliary, serving as its first male volunteer, and was a member of the Pilot Club as well. He was a past president and held an abiding interest in the South Baldwin Amateur Club as W4INU. He was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include a son, Joseph Terry (Linda) Bancroft of Port St. Joe, Fla.; a daughter, Sarah Jo Bancroft (Emmett) Farnell of Mobile; a sister, Irene Lindsey. of Tallahassee, Fla.; two grandsons, John Bancroft Farnell and Stephen Madison Farnell; nieces and nephews, Robert Bancroft, Randy Bancroft, Darrell Bancroft, Sharon Tellers, Michael Lindsey, Ann Cole, Joseph Lindsey, Jane Wilkes, Theresa Munroe, Carrie Lindsey; and grand niece, Katy Walker.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah W. Bancroft, a brother, Ernest Bancroft and by a niece, Mary Walker.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 7 at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Graveside services and burial was at 4 p.m. at Pine Crest Cemetery, Mobile.

Arrangements were made by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes and Crematory, Fairhope.