Mr Royal, an active member of the community for the past 35 years, died from a heart attack while playing golf in Wyong on Thursday, August 20.

He was 68.

His funeral was to be held at St John's Anglican Church in Raymond Terrace on August 27.

Born in Toowomba, Queensland, in 1947, Mr Royal served in the RAAF for 25 years. There, he met and married wife Sue and raised three children - Elizabeth, James and Olivia.

He was a member of Lions for 38 years, Medowie rugby union club, Tilligerry RSL Sub-Branch, Rural Fire Service, Tanilba Bay Golf Club and The Tilligerry Habitat.

He was a convener for Clean Up Australia Day and a founder of the inaugural 2015 Tilligerry Lions Club fishing competition.

A committed Christian, he was a licensed lay pastor within the Anglican church and a volunteer for St Vincent de Paul Society.

Mr Royal's faith motivated him in the community and beyond through the Kairos prison ministry, at Cessnock Correctional Centre.

Daughter Elizabeth said her father was a "loving husband, proud father and grandfather, faithful friend and compassionate companion to anyone who needed it".

"He will be sorely missed by many people in the local and wider community."