William Earl Roach

Lt Col William Earl Roach USAF (Ret)
of Vestal
Lt Col William Earl Roach USAF (Ret), of Vestal, passed away February 16, 2009 at Wilson Hospital. Col Roach was born in Plattsburgh, New York on December 7, 1924 to William J. and Lea D. Roach. A graduate of Brewster High School, Brewster, New York, he attended Georgia Institute of Technology prior to enlisting in the Untied States Army Air Forces in 1943. Upon completion of flight training, he joined the legendary 92nd Bombardment Group - "Fame's Favored Few" in Poddington, England flying B-17's. In March of 1945 while leading a mission over Berlin, he was wounded when his plane was hit multiple times by anti-aircraft fire. Despite his wounds, he proceeded to the target successfully completing the assigned mission. For his actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart. Following the war, Col Roach stayed in the Army Air Corps transitioning to the United States Air Force in 1947. During his career, he logged over 10,000 hours of flight time flying multiple aircraft including the B-57 and B-52. Following retirement from the Air Force in 1965, he settled in Vestal working for Singer-Link as a Nav/Comm Engineer. Col Roach is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marilynn Jayne, Vestal; sons, William R., Land 'O' Lakes, Florida, Robert M., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Cdr Randall D. USN (Ret), Fort Collins, Colorado; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Funeral services will be held at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton, Thursday at 1 p.m. Rev. Corey S. VanKuren will officiate. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at the convenience of the family. The family will receive friends at the McCormack Funeral Home, Thursday from 12 Noon until 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in memory of Lt Col Roach may be made to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 42540-0301.