David
Arthur Roach
(September
11, 1918 - July 30, 2009)
David
Arthur Roach passed away at the age
of 90 on July 30th, 2009 in Tulsa.
He
was born on September 11, 1918 in Haigler, Nebraska.
He attended the University of Nebraska
in Lincoln where he earned a degree in
Civil Engineering, participated in Sigma Tau fraternity
and graduated with honors. He enlisted
in the United States Army in 1941 where
he served with the 45th Corps of Engineers
and earned the rank of Major. He served his country in Burma during
World War II and was involved the construction of the Ledo Road.
When
he was discharged from the Army in 1946, David went to work for Peter
Kewitt and Sons supervising road and construction projects. In 1949
he moved
to Bartlesville, Oklahoma to work for Phillips Petroleum Company as
Chief Engineer, ultimately achieving the position of Vice President
of Supply
and Transportation. He married his wife, Ayvonne Allen Hawkins, in 1951.
They resided in Bartlesville until 1960 when the family moved to Tulsa
where David became the first employee of the Mid America Pipeline Company
which later became MAPCO. David served MAPCO as Executive Vice
President until his retirement in 1983. He was a member of First
United Methodist
Church where he and his wife served as youth sponsors. He served
on the Finance and Stewardship committees at First Methodist Church
as well as being a member and dear friend of the Joynor Sunday School
class, where he was President and Treasurer. He was a past President of
the Tulsa Petroleum Club and an active member of the MAPCO Retirees Club.
He was a lifelong supporter of the University of Nebraska where he endowed
a scholarship fund. He loved Cornhusker football and was a member
of the Tulsa Cornhusker Club. He created an extensive family genealogy
in his retirement and published a detailed book of the Roach family
history. He had strong ties to his boyhood home and made many trips back
to the sand hills of southwestern Nebraska for town reunions and family
gatherings. He loved to share the stories about the community, the people
and life in Haigler. David will be remembered by those who knew him
for his big, warm smile and infectious laugh, his love of a good
story, his
strength of character, his earnest friendship, and his devotion to
those he loved.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 49 years, Annetta Ayvonne
Roach, parents Charles and Lottie Kate Roach, brother Charles Frank
Roach and sister Helen Lewine Ward. David is survived by his son Charles
Q. Hawkins and his wife Shirley Janco Hawkins of Tulsa, his son Jerry
R. Hawkins of Tulsa, his daughter Debra L. Sterne of Tulsa, his daughter
Susan R. Humphrey and her husband David of Oklahoma City and his
daughter Patricia A. Southmayd and her husband Clark of Tulsa. He
also is
survived by his grandchildren Steven H, Janco and his wife Sarah of Norman
and their daughter Abigail, Jay Janco and his wife Paige and their sons
Luke and Jack of Roswell, Georgia, David N. Janco and his wife Mia of
Kansas City, Missouri, Ross A. Hawkins and his wife Hannah of Great Falls,
Montana, Ashley H. Denk and her husband Tim of Murrieta, California,
Richard Hawkins and his wife Daisy and their daughter Olivia of Tulsa,
Anna Thomas and her husband Jason of Oklahoma City and their sons
Derek and Chandler, Helen Humphrey of Dallas, Texas, Bria Humphrey
of Overland Park, Kansas, Sarah Southmayd of Tulsa and David Southmayd
of Tulsa. The family wishes to thank those involved in David's care
for their attentiveness and compassion. A memorial service will be
held at
First Methodist Church on Monday August 3rd, 2209 at 11:00 a.m.. The family
requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to the Dave Roach
Engineering Excellence Fund, University of Nebraska Foundation, P.O.
Box 82555, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501 or to the Haigler Improvement Committee
c/o the Dundy County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 606, Benkelman,
Nebraska 69021.