Leslie Thomas "Les" Roach

Leslie "Les" Thomas Roach Jr.

Leslie Thomas Roach Jr., 78, of Madison Heights, died Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010.

He was the husband of Doris Bates Roach for 44 years. He was born on May 6, 1932, in Charlotte County, a son of the late Leslie Thomas Roach Sr. and the late Ida Nash Roach.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Brenda (Faye) Jefferson and her husband, Gary, of Hurt, JoAnn Rilee, of Greensboro, N.C., Tina Tedder, of Goode, Rex Hammock and his friend, Pat, of Lynchburg, Mike Roach, of Georgia, and Leonard Troy Roach, of Lynchburg; 16 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Cecil Roach, and his wife, Joan, of Pamplin.

Les worked for the Lynchburg Police Department for seven years, where he walked the beat on 5th Street from 1953 to 1960. From there, he started in insurance as an agent and then became staff manager and later manager, from which he retired from in 1988. After retiring, he had his morning meeting with his friends at Kenny Burger, where they met for coffee. Les enjoyed talking on the CB Radio, loved cooking on the grill and feeding the birds. He was a loving and dedicated husband, father and grandfather.

Whenever Les needed something done that he couldn't do himself, he would call his daughter, Faye (whom he affectionately called Faye-Ro) or his son, Rex, and they always tried to take care of it for him.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 6:30 p.m. today, Oct. 16, 2010, at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, with the Rev. Robert Green officiating. Interment will follow at 4:30 p.m. in Hillcrest Cemetery in Chatham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, American Heart Association or American Cancer Society.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tharp

funeralhome.com.