Royce "Smat" Milstead (Age 86) of Indian Head (Rison), Maryland.

Obituary

On Saturday, March 10, 2018 at Prince Georges Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland, Royce Milstead, more affectionately called "Smat" peacefully transitioned to eternal life.

Royce was born April 21, 1931 to Irving and Maud Milstead in Chicamuxen, Maryland. At the age of six, after the death of his mother, Royce went to Washington, D.C. to live with his Aunt and Godmother, Laura Smith.

At the age of 19 he returned to Maryland to live. He married Donza Penny on January 6, 1951 and from this union two sons were born: Joseph Larry and Charles Kenneth. During their early years of marriage Royce and Donza made their home in Marbury. In 1960 he built his home in Rison. At that time Royce went to work at the Naval Powder Factory in Indian Head. After seven years, he left to pursue employment at the Fort Meade Security Center. His next employment was with the National Park Service where he worked until his Retirement in 1986.

Royce's hobbies were fishing, dancing, trap shooting and camping. He has received many trophies for shooting with the Mattawoman Rod and Hunt Club. He traveled the East Coast in his Winnebago motor home until his health prevented him from doing so.

He has spent many a good time dancing at Kings Beach and telling jokes under the tree at Penny's Tavern and was a die-hard Washington Redskins fan.

He spent his days as the neighborhood plumber, Rison's resident manager and as a Trustee of Alexandria United Methodist Church.

Royce was preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Maud Milstead; son, Charles K. Milstead; granddaughters, Renee Alston and Kendra Booth; sisters, Thelma Bond and Victoria Washington; brothers, Irving Milstead, Jr. and Carroll Milstead.

Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 67 years, Donza A. Milstead; son, Joseph "Larry" Milstead; daughter-in-law, Doris Milstead; grandchildren, Larry A. Yates, Joseph E. and Jomeika E. Milstead; great grandchildren, Christopher, Brandon and Sierra Savoy, Ricky Neal and Amani Bryan; great-great grandchildren, Zuri Makala Renee Savoy, Cencere Remi Savoy and Ariyah Bryan; sisters, Ethel Thomas, Ruth Simmons and Regina Ross; many many nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and two neighborhood young men he treated like step sons, Steven Kelton and Stanley Berry.

Viewing, 9:00 a.m. until time of Service, 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 19, 2018 in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., Indian Head, Maryland.  Interment, Alexandria United Methodist Church Cemetery, Rison, Maryland.