Zigmund James Roebuck

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Laurel Dalrymple on December 11, 2017:

Zig was a great friend to my dad, Ladd Metzner, '65. They were stationed in Germany together and my mom and Zig's wife, Linda, became good friends, and Zig's and Linda's amazing daughter Lindsey was the first best friend I ever had. Lindsey died tragically at age 30 in a car accident. She had a lot of her dad's warmth, generosity, kindness and ability to make any situation as fun as possible. Even at age 6, Lindsey was up for anything and always had some really good ideas about how to spend our days on the base. We had the best time together, and I miss her terribly. She was also an amazing and beautiful ballerina! I remember being in awe watching her dance. My husband and I reconnected with Zig and Linda some years ago back at their home in Huntsville and they welcomed us like family. We had the most wonderful time! Lately, a friend from Germany sent us some photos of a Christmas dinner at our little base apartment in Germany and Zig and my dad are just yakking away with huge smiles on their faces. Zig's hands are waving in the air and my dad is doubled over with laughter. They had such a lovely friendship, the kind you really wish for in life. When I received this photo, I had also been thinking about Lindsey quite a lot. She does cross my mind a bit but this time it was very insistent -- like she was popping up everywhere. Getting the photo precisely at this time was also a bit odd. I decided to "Google" Zig to see if I could find out if he had a Facebook page or some such thing (I kept hoping to run into him at a reunion with no luck), and was shocked to find his obit had just been posted 10 hours ago! This family will always be a special one to me -- I will always feel the loss of Lindsey and it is comforting to think of her being reunited with her dad, who missed her with all his heart. My heart also goes out to Linda, Zig's wife of more than 50 years. I am hoping she is finding comfort with family, friends and her church. She is a wonderful, beautiful woman and she was so blessed to have Zig and Lindsey in her life. I wish her peace and comfort; I know it won't be easy to go on without two of the most beautiful souls I've ever had the good fortune to meet. God bless you, Linda, we are thinking of you.

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