WALDOBORO — Rody Conway, 79, was killed suddenly in a tragic auto accident on Nov. 16, 2016. Rody was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, soldier, teacher and friend. He will be fondly remembered by all of those whom he touched.

Rody was born in Galveston, Texas, and as an Army brat spent much of his childhood in Puerto Rico, where he became bilingual. His father, Col. Eugene Conway, retired from the Army and the family moved with his new brother, Michael, to Salinas, Calif. There, Rody excelled in friendship and basketball.

He graduated from West Point in 1959, became a ranger/paratrooper and served two tours in Viet Nam. He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star medals (for valor), Viet Nam Service Medal, Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal and the Republic of Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry. He lived in India, Colombia and bases in the U.S. with his two resilient sons, Scott and Glenn. He retired a lieutenant colonel.

In 1983 he met and married the love of his life, Rhonda Conway. Maine beckoned, and Rody and Rhonda retired to Waldoboro in 2000.

A renaissance man, Rody was a Latin American specialist, accomplished tennis player, fly fisherman and grill-master. No one could separate Rody from his firewood - carefully and lovingly hauled, split, stacked and burned - and his lawn, which he mowed like a zen master. He occasionally took a break from his varied hobbies to continue his passion for teaching through his last days, as a substitute teacher at Medomak Valley High.

A gifted and natural story teller, his teaching style enthralled and engaged students in an extraordinary way over decades. He will be fondly remembered by students over 30 years in Florida and Maine, with many yearbooks dedicated to him.

Rody is survived by his loving wife, Rhonda Ralph Conway; his daughter, Jennifer Dangar and her husband, Jon, of Atlanta, Ga.; his sons, Derik Reichenbach and his wife, Rhiannon, of Davie, Fla., Michael Scott Conway and his wife, Renee, of Baltimore, Md., and Glenn Mead Conway and his life-partner, Susan Red, of Hamden, Conn.; his mother- and father-in-law, Ronald and Claire Ralph of Waldoboro; his brother, Michael Conway and his wife, Karen, of St. Glastonbury, Conn.; his brother-in-law, Steve Ralph of Waldoboro; his grandchildren, Hilton Dangar and Grace Dangar of Atlanta, Ga., Rody James Conway of St. Glastonbury, Conn., and Haley Reichenbach and Declan Reichenbach of Davie, Fla.; a special niece, Taylor Conway of St. Glastonbury, Conn.; as well as several other nieces and nephews.

There will be a small service for family and close friends on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 10 a.m. at Hall's of Waldoboro.

Friends are welcome to join the family for a celebration of life on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. at The Ronald E. Dolloff Auditorium at Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro.

In lieu of flowers the family has set up a memorial scholarship fund in Rody's name: The Rody M. Conway Scholarship Fund. 

Hall's of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements.