Luther Roach

ODESSA — Luther Eugene Roach passed peacefully from this life the morning of May 31, 2004. He was born February 21, 1922, in Roswell, N.M. His parents, William Wallace Roach, Sr. and Birdie Collier Roach were ranchers. Luther and his four siblings grew up on the family ranch, situated between what is now Lovington, N.M. and Tatum, N.M. He graduated from Tatum High School in Tatum, N.M., in 1940. The next two years, Luther attended Baylor University, but his college education was interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. After his honorable discharge, he returned to the ranch and engaged in raising livestock, which was considered an essential wartime industry.
He met and married Mary Louise Turrentine of Hereford, Texas, on July 23, 1944. Together they had two children, William Wallace Roach of Midland and Martha Frances Roach Kunkel of Odessa. In 1958, a protracted drought occurred and Luther and family relocated to El Paso where he began a distinguished career in safety engineering with Commercial Union Assurance Companies. In 1965 he was transferred to Odessa, primarily to work with the El Paso Products Company petrochemical plant, which at the time was the largest inland petrochemical prsocessing plant in the world. The family remained in Odessa except for a five-year period during which he worked in Dallas to found a petroleum exploration division of the company’s business book. Luther achieved recognition and success in his career, holding an A.S.M.E. National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessels Commission from 1959-1984, as well as a commission from the Nuclear National Board from 1968-1984. He was a past President of the A.S.S.E. and served the local chapter in a variety of capacities.
Luther had a wide variety of interests. He was a skilled machinist and designer, and was called on by many friends as well as a few strangers to provide design assistance on many different problems. He made his own reflective telescopes, grinding the optical mirrors by hand. He learned to facet semiprecious gemstones and produced many beautiful pieces he generously gave to family and friends. He became passionately interested in computers and shot many fine photographs with his digital camera. He embodies the “Power Generation” work ethic and always gave his best on every task.
Luther is survived by his loving wife, Mary L. Roach, of Odessa, Texas; his son, William Wallace Roach, and daughter-in-law Sharon Roach, of Midland, Texas; and three loving grandchildren, Gentry Parker, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Alisha Roach, and Matthew Roach, both of Midland, Texas. He is also survived by his daughter, Martha Roach Kunkel, of Odessa, Texas, and her family; loving grandchildren Nancy Elizabeth Thompson and her husband Brandon Scott Thompson, of Tampa, Florida, and Stuart Alan Kunkel, of Odessa, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Wallace Roach, Sr. and Birdie Collier Roach of Caprock, N.M.; brothers William Wallace Roach Jr. of Hobbs, N.M., Charles Lewis Roach, of Mule Creek, N.M., Carl Lowell Roach, of El Paso and sister Daisy Juanita Jennings of Roswell, N.M.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be presented to Home Hospice of Odessa, of the church of your choice.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, 2004 at First Baptist Church with minister Johnny Young officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2004 at Sunset Funeral Home.
He was a large presence and he will be missed.
Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home.