Msgr. R. Roy Cosby, beloved priest in the dioceses of Arlington and Richmond, died Feb. 18, aged 99.
“The first word often used to describe Msgr. Cosby was humble,” Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said. “He sought only to do the will of God without any focus on himself. Msgr. Cosby was also known for the care and compassion he provided to those in need; his great devotion to Our Blessed Mother; and his appreciation of priestly fraternity. He was a loyal, faithful, and holy priest and, pray God, many men will walk in his footsteps as our future priests.”
Msgr. Cosby was born May 16, 1924 in Henrico County. He graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond in 1941 and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech in 1944.
He earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and theology from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore in 1954 and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Peter L. Ireton in 1954. He also earned a master’s degree in science from the University of Virginia and worked in what was then known as the U.S. Patent Office from 1945 to 1946 before teaching for a year at St. Francis College in Loretto, Pa.
Msgr. Cosby served as associate pastor at Holy Cross Church in Lynchburg from 1956 to 1960 and Blessed Sacrament Church in Norfolk from 1960 to 1962. He taught at St. John Vianney Seminary in Richmond from 1962 to 1967 where he held several parish assignments, including St. Bridget Church in Richmond, Holy Comforter Church in Charlottesville, Christ the King Church in Norfolk and St. Patrick Church in Richmond.
He was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church in Columbia in 1967 and transferred to St. Francis Church in Staunton the following year. In 1970, Msgr. Cosby became the founding pastor of Holy Family Church in Dale City where he served for eight years, followed by an assignment at St. Timothy Church in Chantilly in 1978. He was also the founding pastor of St. Patrick Church in Fredericksburg in 1983.
In 1994, former Arlington Bishop John R. Keating named him pastor of St. James Church in Falls Church. Msgr. Cosby served as diocesan vicar general from March 1994 until the death of Bishop Keating in March 1998. Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde re-named him vicar general in 1999.
He received the honorary title of “Reverend Monsignor” in October 1994 — the 11th diocesan priest to receive the papal honor. Msgr. Cosby was pastor of St. James Church at the time of his retirement in June 1999. He was in residence at Holy Spirit Church in Annandale from 1999 to 2007 and returned to his family home in Rockville in 2007.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Feb. 23 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond.
This story has been updated.
