Dick Eggleston Roach

1929 - 2016

ROACH, Dick Eggleston Dick Eggleston Roach, LTC (Ret), 86, of Dunwoody, Georgia, passed away January 20, 2016 from complications of pulmonary fibrosis due to Agent Orange. He was born in New Orleans on September 26, 1929 to Philip Henry Roach and Madeleine Talichet Roach. He and his wife, Nan Fussell Roach, had been married for 62 years. Roach enjoyed distinguished careers in both military and civilian service. He held a B.S. degree from The University of Omaha and an M.S. in Education from Georgia State University; prior education included time at Tulane University and Notre Dame. He was a Master Army Aviator and Instrument Flight Examiner. Military training included both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft schools, US Army Command and General Staff College, and the University of Southern California Army Aviation Safety Course. As an Artillery Officer in the US Army LTC Roach served stateside at Forts Sill, Leavenworth, Hood, Polk, Rucker, Benning, Belvoir and McNair. His first overseas assignment was to US Army Southern European Task Force (SETAF) in Verona, Italy. There he was an aviator and Aide-de-Camp, first to Major General Harvey Fisher and then to Major General John Daley. After that, Roach did three tours in Vietnam, flying over 2000 combat missions and receiving the Vietnamese Medal of Honor. His last overseas assignment was to the Joint Military Mission for Aid to Turkey (JUSMMAT) as the Chief Aviation Advisor to the Turkish Army. Returning to Fort Rucker, Alabama, he served as Director of Standards and Instructor Training; then became architect and first commander of The Silver Eagles, the Army's helicopter precision demonstration team. Before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1978, he was assigned to Combat Developments Command at Fort Belvoir, followed by duty as the Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the US Army Military District of Washington, D.C. He also served as military aide to the Eisenhower family for the last Nixon inaugural and the Carter Inaugural. Military honors included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star for Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, multiple Combat Air Medals and Army Commendation Medals. After retiring from the Army, LTC Roach became Director of Services at the Downtown Marriott Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, during which time he was an Advisory Board Member for the Atlanta Concierge Society. Upon completing his M.S. degree in 1978, he launched a career teaching algebra in Gwinnett County. He was honored twice in Who's Who Among America's Teachers as the teacher who made the biggest difference in their lives by two of his former students who had been recognized for excellence. During the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, he was a volunteer serving as an aide in the VIP section of Olympic Stadium. His many interests included golfing, exercising at LA Fitness, collecting coins and watching the Braves on TV. He and Nan have been members of All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody since 1978. Dick Roach never met a stranger. He liked to talk, would always introduce himself, ask for the person's name and remember it, then find out something interesting about the person and converse, sometimes in French, Italian, Russian or Turkish. In addition to his wife Nan, LTC Roach is survived by three of his six children: Robert Hardaway Roach (Pamela Fisher) of Charlottesville, VA, Michael Kirkpatrick Roach (Adam Therrell) of Brookhaven, GA, Carolyn Roach Busby (Richard Busby) of Johns Creek, GA, and daughter-in-law Linda Underwood of Alpharetta. He also leaves a brother, Philip Henry Roach, Jr. of Hau'ula, HI, and grandchildren Reid Roach, Megan Roach, Kelsey Roach, Jennifer Stuart, Richard Busby Jr. and Daniel Busby. Preceding him in death were his children Jenifer, Kevin, and Mark. There will be a private family ceremony at the Columbarium of All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody. The family has asked that any donations be made to the Georgia State University Kevin Roach Scholarship Fund which was created by the Concierge Society of Atlanta (GSU School of Hospitality, 35 Broad St, Ste 220, Atlanta, GA 30303).