COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Hugh Arno Roach, 90, of Columbia, passed away Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. Hugh was born in Muscogee, Okla., to the late Lloyd Laverne Roach and Edyth McKay Milton, Nov. 25, 1926. He had an older brother and sister, Laverne Roach and Martha Elizabeth Abraham, both of whom preceded him in death. His beloved wife, Carita Lee Peters Roach, passed away on July 29, 2017.
Hugh graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in Poplar Bluff, in 1944. He then served in the Navy during the last year of World War II aboard the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt. He attended Westminster College on the G.I. bill, and then graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in business. He began his career in retail management, but soon moved to the insurance industry, eventually serving thirty years in the claims division of State Farm Insurance. Passionate about a life of community service, Hugh spent most of his adult life as an enthusiastic and loyal member of the Kiwanis. In his retirement, he was a leader in the Golden K chapter, where he immersed himself in a wide range of volunteer work. One of his favorite volunteer endeavors was reading stories to children at the Field elementary school. Mr. Roach became a much-anticipated weekly visitor to many youngsters. He was an active member of the Broadway Christian Church for over fifty years and leaves behind generations of friends in his church family.
In June of 1947, Hugh married his high school sweetheart, Carita Lee Peters. The early years of their marriage were spent in Poplar Bluff, Terre Haute, Ind., Detroit, Mich., and Toledo Ohio. In 1965 they left Festus, Mo., and moved to Columbia where Hugh worked with State Farm Insurance until his retirement in 1989 and Carita taught for 22 years at West Junior High School. They raised two children: Brenda Bass of Columbia and Bruce Roach of Saint Paul, Minn. In June of this year, Carita and Hugh celebrated 70 years of marriage.
A life-long dog-lover, Hugh also had a passion for sports. He was a high school basketball star, an eager, if frustrated golfer, and a loyal fan of Mizzou football and basketball.
Hugh is survived by his two children, his sister-in-law, Mary Helen Duggar, of Jacksonville, Fla., 11 nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and close friends.
Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 29 at Broadway Christian Church, 2601 W. Broadway, Columbia, Mo. Officiating will be Rev. Tim Carson. Burial was held in Memorial Park Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Broadway Christian Church youth programs or Golden K Kiwanis Club, c/o Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO 65202.
Online condolences may be made at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com.
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