Roy Lou Greenwood

Roy Lou Greenwood, age 84 of Gatesville, passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Restland Cemetery.

Roy Lou was born on December 8, 1940 to the late James Roy and Neva Hill Covin in Gilmer, Texas. When she was five years old, her family moved to Diana, Texas, where she attended school and later graduated. She married William Greenwood on May 9, 1958 in Houston, Texas. In 1971, Roy Lou and her family moved to Gatesville to be closer to other family members. She went to work for the State School for Boys in 1973 and later started her career as a Correctional Officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, working at the Mountain View Unit.  During this time, she also returned to college, obtaining an associate's degree in Criminal Justice from Central Texas College. She dedicated the next 28 years of her life to TDCJ, and eventually retired from the Hilltop Unit as a Major. Roy Lou enjoyed cooking for family and friends, sewing and spending time working in her flower beds.

In her own words, Roy Lou expressed that she had a great life, from beginning to end, and that her ride to Heaven has been much easier with help from friends and relatives to ease the bumps along the way.  She wrote in her journal that the best part of her life was becoming a parent and reflected that she had a wonderful husband, three great children and many grand and great grandchildren.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, William Lee Greenwood Jr.; brothers, Audie Covin and Calvin (Bud) Covin; sisters, Melba Covin and Jo Renae Evans; and son in law, Kenneth Holden.

Roy Lou is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Willie Greenwood; daughters, Kandy Greenwood and Mandy Adams; grandchildren, Cody Machac and wife, Tiara, Jaden Greenwood, Marty Tippit and wife, Tanna, Dustin Whitenburg and wife, Gladys, Ashley Larkey and husband, Chett, Colby Adams and fiancé, Bailee Frederickson; great grandchildren, Haeven, Anna, and Mason Whitenburg, and Gavin and Cameron Tippit; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that she loved dearly.