Funeral services for Mr. Robert Davis Roach, Jr., age 96, will be held at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston, LA, with Bro. Paul Watts and Bro. Jeff Sanford officiating.  Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

Junior served in the United States Marine Corp with the 2 ^nd Amphibious Tank Battalion during WWII in the Pacific Theatre on the islands of Saipan and Iwo Jima.  He graduated in 1950 from Louisiana Tech with a degree in Agriculture and retired from Arkla Gas after 32 years.   Junior began working the Chain Crew for Louisiana Tech in 1948.  He later joined Coach Hoss Garrett at Ruston High in 1953.  He volunteered for 66 years on the sidelines and remained a fan of football.   He was a member of Choudrant Masonic Lodge #339 and served as a Shriner for 50 years.  He was also a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon before moving to Keithville, LA.

Junior is survived by his son, Rob Roach (Robbie); daughter, Sarah Burdine (Jim); eight grandchildren: John Plaisance (Ilsa), Elizabeth Campbell (Ben), Ashley Smith (Shon), Cody Roach (Chancy), Melinda Taylor (Brent), Mitch Burdine (Gracie), Joey Burdine (Nicole), Jayme Burdine (Debra); seventeen great-grandchildren; seventeen great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Junior is preceded in death by parents, Robert Davis Roach, Sr. and Zola Hammonds Roach; brothers, Pat Roach, James Hilton (Skillet) Roach; sister, Virginia Elliott; wife of 53 years, Frances Colvin Roach and wife of 7 years, Dorothy Edmiston Roach and longtime friend, Merlene Benedict.

Serving as pallbearers will be John (Jay) Plaisance, Cody Roach, Trenton Smith, Shon Smith, Joey Burdine, Mitch Burdine and Jayme Burdine.  Honorary pallbearers will be Mack Colvin, Mike Collie, Todd Faulkner, James Roach and David Roach.

Visitation will be 9:00-10:00 A.M., Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at Owens Memorial Chapel.  To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com .