Lou Roan

Gerta Lou (Lou) Wright Roan, 86, passed away peacefully Friday, June 28, 2024, at her home in Delmar, New York surrounded by family.

Born in Burlington, North Carolina on July 31, 1937 to Cora and McKinley Wright. Lou graduated from Sylvan High School, Snow Camp North Carolina, where she was on their girls’ basketball team. Lou’s quest for knowledge led her to Guilford College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (1961) and a Master of Arts in Education from East Carolina University (1966). She met the love of her life, Roger Roan, at Gilford College and married on December 23, 1958.

Lou entered a 39-year career in education as a teacher and guidance counselor spanning North Carolina, New York, and Maryland. She and Roger moved to Maryland in 1964 where she worked 35 years in the Charles County Public Schools. Lou spent 30 of those years at General Smallwood Middle School as a guidance counselor. 

Lou was an active member of Cane Creek Friends (Snow Camp North Carolina), Good Samaritan Presbyterian Church (Waldorf, Maryland), St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (Delmar, New York), and Delta Kappa Gamma.

Lou will be remembered for many things: her smile, love of music, passion for basketball, seen driving her Volvo throughout town, but mostly her love of family especially her grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Roger Edward Roan, sister Geneva Wellons, parents Cora and McKinley Wright and many aunts and uncles.

Lou is survived by her daughter Ann (Bernie) Mantha of Delmar, New York; Cory (Amy) McClain of Feura Bush, New York; nieces Susan Smith of Chesapeake, Virginia and Jennifer Walker of Laurel Springs, North Carolina; grandchildren Owen McClain, Sarah Mantha, Finleigh McClain, Eamon McClain, Cabot McClain, and Larkin McClain.

Celebration of Life services were held Friday, July 5, at 11am St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Delmar, New York. 

Celebration of Life services in Maryland will be held Friday, July 12th 10am at Good Samaritan Presbyterian Church in Waldorf. 

The family is also planning services in North Carolina later this summer.