William Bernard Roach

• Born: November 8, 1923
• Died: January 25, 2017
• Location: Fort Smith, AR

William (Bill) Bernard Roach. 93, passed from this life into God’s presence on January 25, 2017.  He was born to William B. and Fannie Chadwick Roach in Alexandria, LA on November 8, 1923.  He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Ailene Roach, son, Bill Roach, Jr., and siblings Tom Roach, Tom Clement, Juliene Dixon, and Rita Renfro.

Bill is survived by daughter, Pat Jones (Jimmy) of Fort Smith, AR, grandsons Chris Jones (Carla) of Sumter, SC, Eric Jones of Owasso, OK, and Scott Roach (Tracey) of Memphis, TN and great grandchildren Hailey Jones (SC), Mia Jones, Maggie Jones, Caroline Jones, and EvanCharlie Jones (OK).

Bill served in WWII in the Navy stationed in the South Pacific, and retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1987.

He was a deacon and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in Mount Ida, AR.  He ministered in the local jail, as well as being a Gideon for many years.  He was a man of few words, but had a huge servant’s heart.  His special talent was cooking and he enjoyed sharing the food he cooked with family, neighbors and friends.

For the last 3 years he has lived in Fort Smith, AR to be near his daughter and son-in-law, where he enjoyed attending South Side Baptist Church and the Men’s Sunday School class.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at Methodist Health & Rehab and Peachtree Hospice for their loving care of Bill while he was with them.

Visitation will be held January 26, 2017, 6-8 PM at Thornton Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services are scheduled at Mt. Ida First Baptist Church on January 27, 2017 at 10 AM.  A memorial service will be held at a later date at South Side Baptist Church in Fort Smith.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Mount Ida First Baptist Church Building Fund (204 Luzerne Street, Mount Ida, AR  72957), Gideon’s, International, or South Side Baptist Church (2400 Dodson, Fort Smith, AR 72901). Arrangements were made under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida, AR. Guest register at www.thorntonfh.com