Roy Walter Dennis, age 96, passed away at Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, Missouri, on May 6, 2026, following an extended illness. He was born on January 20, 1930, to Roy H. and Bessie (Haggard) Dennis in Nevada, Missouri.
Roy and his family moved to El Dorado Springs, Missouri, when he was a young boy. He graduated from high school in the El Dorado Springs Class of 1948 and was a member of the First Baptist Church in El Dorado Springs.
On July 8, 1950, Roy married Marvelene Brown in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Because neither of them owned a car, they borrowed his parents’ 1949 Plymouth to make the trip. Roy was drafted into the United States Marine Corps in 1951 and honorably served two years at bases in California and Hawaii. In 1957, he began a career with the United States Postal Service in El Dorado Springs. For the first 17 years, Roy walked 12-15 miles per day carrying and delivering mail as a city carrier. Following that, he spent another 11 years driving a rural route, before retiring in 1985. Later in his life, Roy could still recall street addresses of many longtime El Dorado, Springs residents.
Roy is survived by grandchildren Danielle Wyland, Fort Scott, Kansas; Misty Pettit, Nevada, Missouri; Dane Dennis, Webb City, Missouri; and Aaron (Whitney) Dennis, Springfield, Missouri; as well as great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by daughters-in-law Arlene Dennis, Phoenix, Arizona; and Marilyn Dennis, Springfield, Missouri; sister Donna Hopper, Republic, Missouri; sisters-in-law Darlene Anderson, El Dorado Springs, Missouri; and Ruth Brown, El Dorado Springs, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife and sons, Roy was predeceased by his parents, as well as siblings Margie Carter, Evelyn Harvey, Melba McPeak, and Dean Dennis.
A joint graveside service for Roy and Marvelene will be held at the El Dorado Springs City Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
