Royal Brightbill

Oct. 13, 2017
Royal Arden Brightbill, a native of New Orleans and longtime resident of Mobile, died at his home on Friday. He was 77 years old. Royal, better known as Roy, and "Butch" to his immediate family, was a veteran of both the Louisiana Air National Guard and the United States Air Force, where he served as linguist, interpreter and code breaker. He attended language school at Yale University, and would later attend Louisiana State University where he earned his degree in 1969. He was a long time editor for United Press International, first as a foreign correspondent and later back home in Louisiana. He came to Mobile in 1993 where he joined the staff of the Press Register and stayed on until his retirement in 2005. He was a certified Alabama Master Gardner and in 1998, he regained his active pilot status and flew in his leisure. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Gwen Delatte, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, two sons, Kelly 45, and Gary, 41, and six grandchildren, Matthew, Mark, Nathan, Nolan, Ava and Katherine.
Visitation will take place on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 beginning at 9am at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Mobile, with memorial mass to follow in the church at 10am. Family and friends will gather at the family home following the mass. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked donations be made to either Little Sisters of the Poor or the St. Vincent DePaul Society.
Condolences may be offered at www.mobilememorialfunerals.com.

Visitation

Service