His father, Roy Flatt, Sr., was a World War I veteran.

Roy was 12 when his father died at an early age of 33 in 1929 from Tuberculosis. His dad contracted the disease from exposure to chemicals while working in the dry cleaning business.

Gabrella, who went by Gay, remarried in 1930 to Thomas (Tom) Dove. Tom owned an automobile maintenance company in Waco. He was a gentle man and was called, “Papa Tom.”

Tom was the father to Roy and had much to do with the values instilled in the boy. As Roy grew older he worked for Tom for a time and learned about cars and engines.