Russell P. Roach, Jr.

Russell P. Roach Jr. went to join our mother, Joyce, on March 10, 2020. He was 93 years old. Russell ‘Russ’ was born September 18, 1926 in Memphis, Tennessee. Upon graduation from Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, Russ proudly served In the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II. After serving in the military, Russell started his post high school career at Texas A&M in College Station. Russ continued to date the lovely girl that he had ‘accidentally’ run into at his parents’ apartment complex in Houston, which proved rather difficult while attending school in College Station. Russ and Joyce wed in 1949 and so Russ transferred to the University of Houston where he earned his BSME degree in 1954. After Joyce’s passing in 1998, Russell married Myrtle Franklin, whom he cared for until her passing in 2019. Russ, a mechanical engineer for the Dow Chemical Co., had a variety of interests including travel, music, and farming and was a member of the Second Baptist Church of Houston. He was also a member of ASME, registered in both Texas and Louisiana. He served as Chairman for the Republican Precinct Campaign Organization of Harris County (Houston) and proudly helped organize the first Highland games in Houston where he served as the First Chairman for the Houston Highland Games Association. Russ is preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Jeanette Roach, and his wife of 49 years, Joyce M. Roach. Survivors are his sister, Madge Williams, daughter Gesina Thompson and husband, Skip, son Russell P. Roach III and wife, Brenda and daughter Kerry Polzin and husband, Kenneth. Surviving grandchildren include Stephen Mitchell, Paul Mitchell, Russell P. Roach IV, Sean Roach, Christine Navarro, Mary Velazquez, Abigail Roach, Sarah Roach, Rebekah Roach, John Roach, Lindsey Polzin, and Christopher Polzin. Russ is also survived by nieces, Meg Sherard and Kathy Hiatt, nephew Roger Williams and many beautiful great-grandchildren. Russell will be carried to his final resting place by pallbearers Stephen Mitchell, Paul Mitchell, Russell P. Roach IV, Christopher Polzin, Juan Navarro, Jeremy Velazquez, and great-grandsons Corbin Mitchell and Austin Russell Roach, where a flag will be presented to the family and “Taps” will be played by a U.S. Honor Guard. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 21, 2020 in the Chapel of Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home in Rosenberg. Burial to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Rosenberg.

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Russell P. Roach, Jr.

September 18, 1926 - March 10, 2020