WILMINGTON — Roscoe Gwyn Wyatt (“Wyatt”), 90, of Wilmington, NC, was born on May 15, 1933 and went to heaven on June 8, 2023.
He was born and raised in West Jefferson, NC until he graduated from High School in 1950, one day after turning 17. The following week he joined the US Navy. He served on the USS Corregidor which was a transport ship carrying supplies to NATO. His second ship was the USS Wasp which was an operating Carrier. He was a “yellow shirt” who worked on the flight deck which controlled the traffic for take-offs and launching air craft and landing back on the flight deck at the completion of their mission. The air craft was fully armed when they were launched by the catapult. During operations, the flight deck crew was permitted to eat ahead of everyone else in line for meals in order to be ready to receive the returning aircraft. Other sailors were reluctant to allow flight crew to jump the line for meals, but they had no choice.
Wyatt was discharged with an honorable discharge on February 24, 1954.
Wyatt was employed by J. A. Jones Construction Company for 30 years in heavy construction, i.e., dams, power houses, etc… He met and a year later married Royestine Stephenson on June 17, 1962. They were blessed with 2 boys, Kevin and Roger; six grandchildren, Kristin Ivory (Brandon and great-grandson, Vincent), Thomas Wyatt, Dylan Wyatt, Tynker Wyatt, Harper Wyatt and Beckett Wyatt (who died at the age of 10 from cancer). Also surviving are brothers, Arveson Wyatt, Carl Wyatt and Robert Wyatt.
In addition to his grandson, Wyatt is preceded in death by his parents, Sanford and Mae Wyatt, four sisters, Violet Hopkins, Ruth Marie, Mattie Lou and Virginia Mae Wyatt; and five brothers, Paul, Ralph, Earl, Donald and Clyde.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at Masonboro Baptist Church followed immediately by a funeral service beginning at noon. Burial will be private at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
