Roy C. Brubaker, age 82, of Newark, DE passed away surrounded by his family on February 16, 2023.

Born in Willow Street, PA, Roy was the son of the late Myrtle (Peters) and Jay Brubaker. The youngest of 5 children, he grew up on the family farm, where he learned the value of hard work, had an appreciation for good corn, and used any extra time he could find to play ball. His competitiveness was noticed at a young age, validated by the smashing of numerous croquet mallets in hard fought games with his brothers.

A 1958 graduate of Lampeter Strasburg HS, he later attended Penn State where he received a bachelor's degree in education. Roy, better known to his friends as "Bru," worked as a beloved and respected science teacher for almost four decades, 33 of them in the Christina School District at Shue-Medill Middle School where he was the department chairman when the school opened in 1967.

His classroom was filled with energy, humor and kindness, where he inspired students with a love of science through legendary chemistry experiments. While his teaching style was lighthearted and fun, his command of the classroom instilled discipline and left an impressive impact on thousands during his tenure.

For many decades, if you walked with him through Newark or anywhere in Delaware, it was not uncommon to run into a half dozen of his former students who only had great things to say, would give big hugs and emphatically reminded him that he was their favorite teacher.

Upon retirement, to honor his dedication and commitment, Jack Markell, a former student and Delaware Governor, named June 8, 2000, the official "Roy Brubaker Day." Additionally, the school renamed the Outstanding Science Effort award after him, one presented each year to a student who put forth the type of effort and enthusiasm that he put into his teaching every day. His genuine nature and his smile that lit up a room made him easy to love.

While he enjoyed teaching, he was an avid sports fan and player as well. Bru pitched fast-pitch softball and bowled in his early days, helped organize middle school intramural leagues, and coached high school soccer and summer league baseball clubs. In later years, he spent many hours on the golf course and the tennis court, where he helped coordinate the various leagues in which he participated, garnering the nickname "Iron Man" for his endless energy.  In addition to rooting heartily for his Nittany Lions, he was a die-hard Philadelphia fan, attending many games over the years and later from his front row spot in his recliner to watch (and coach loudly) for the Eagles and the Phillies.

Roy loved his family with all his heart and was present in every moment of their lives. He and his wife, Diane, loved to travel within the US and around the globe. Among his favorites places were Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, Ireland, Germany, England and Switzerland (on the 300th anniversary of the Brubakers' migration to America).

As a grandpa, the kids all called him "Pap," and he continued his love of sports, watching them as he traveled to Texas and Florida to visit. He cheered for them on the sidelines as he once did for his own children and always shared his infamous love for all things pretzel related.

His competitive spirit was also found in card games as he and Diane played bridge over the years with their many friends. Active in his community, he was a parishioner of White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, where he served as an usher. He was also civic minded, volunteering for several decades as the treasurer for Morningside until recently.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, J. Robert Brubaker, Mary Brubaker, and J. Ray Brubaker. He will always be remembered with much love by his wife of 55 years, Diana (Cicciarelli) Brubaker; his children and their spouses, Craig and Sandi Brubaker and Jill and Jami Wolocko; his grandchildren, Natalee and Julee Brubaker, and Darby, Tara, and Cooper Wolocko; his sister, Dorothy Charles (Clayton); and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday March 1st from 6PM to 8PM at the Mealey Funeral Home, 2509 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808. Funeral services will be held Thursday morning at 11 AM at the Mealey Funeral Home. Burial will follow at White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, 15 Polly Drummond Hill Rd, Newark, DE 19711, the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692, or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.