SARATOGA SPRINGS Rev. Royal B. Fishbeck, Jr., 84, of Lawrence Street, Saratoga, died Sunday afternoon, March 22, 2009 at Saratoga Springs Hospital. Royal was born in Rochester, NY to the Rev. Royal B. Fishbeck, Sr. and LeNita Greene Fishbeck. He married Roberta Blakeman of Nicholasville, KY in September 1948. Royal graduated from Mt. Pleasant high school (Schenectady, NY) in 1942; obtained his bachelors degree from Asbury College, Wilmore, KY in 1950; and received his Master of Divinity degree from Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, NJ in 1953. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program for Senior Executives in Religious Management at The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA in 1985. During World War II he served with the 89th Infantry Division as a combat medic in the European Theatre of Operations from 194346. He served as Pastor of the following New York United Methodist Churches in the Troy Conference: Eagle Mills UMC and Melrose UMC, from 1953-58; Forrest Avenue UMC, Amsterdam from 1958-62; Community UMC, Slingerlands from 1962-67; and Memorial UMC in Troy from 1967-74. Royal served as the Executive Director of the Troy Conference Council on Ministries from 1974-81. He served as the Associate General Secretary of the General Council on Ministries of the United Methodist Church in Dayton, OH from 1981-92. Following his retirement in 1992 he and Roberta moved to South Glens Falls, NY, living there from 1992-2006. They moved to Woodlawn Commons, a part of the Wesley Community in 2006. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Roberta; a son and daughter-in-law Ronald and Teresa Fishbeck of Madison, VA; a daughter and son-in-law Ruth Ann Fishbeck and Reginald Brothers of Norwood, NY; and five grandchildren; Jonathan Fishbeck, Nicole Fishbeck, Ashton Short, Hannah Short, and Samantha Short. In addition to his parents, Royal was predeceased by a sister, Janet Eckerson. There will be a celebration of Royals life on Saturday, March 28 at 2PM at the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 with a reception to follow at the church. Memorial gifts in Royals name may be made to the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church for use in the Churchs Mission programs. There will be a private interment at the Saratoga National Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (584-5373).