Rev. Barbara Anne Roche

1934 - 2021

Rev. Barbara Anne Roche

Louisville - Roche, Rev. Barbara Anne died Saturday May 8th after a year long decline resulting from a head injury. She was born on August 28, 1934 in Long Beach, CA to Agnes Louise Elford Roche and Claire Peter Roche. Maternal grandparents were William Henry Elford and Metta Marie Schwartz Elford. Paternal grandparents were William Henry Roche and Mary Elizabeth (Lizzy) Smith Roche.

Although Barbara was born in Long Beach, CA she spent her childhood in the copper mining town of Ruth, NV. She graduated White Pine County High School in Ely, NV 1952, Stanford University, BA 1956, Princeton Theological Seminary, MDiv. 1960, and San Francisco Theological Seminary, D.Min. 1984. While at Princeton she put one finger on the globe and another finger half-way around the world and applied for an ecumenical scholarship to spend a year at United Theological College in Bangalore, India. Thus began a life-long love of travel to exotic and interesting places including a trip to Antarctica when she was 80.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her sister, Georgia Gleason (James), a niece Katharine Gleason (Patrick) and a nephew Patrick Gleason (Evelyn), two grandnephews James Gurian and Irvin Garay a grandniece Anna Gurian, and many loyal friends. She is also survived by her much-loved cat, Cooper.

Barbara has been cremated and her ashes will be spread at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm Friday May 21 at the Pavilion at Camp Cedar Ridge, 4010 Old Routt Road, Louisville, KY 40299. Memorial contributions can be made to Ghost Ranch, 280 Private Rd, Abiquiu, NM 87510; Princeton Theological Seminary, 64 Mercer St, Princeton, NJ 08542; and Central Presbyterian Church, 318 W. Kentucky St. Louisville, KY 40203.

Arrangements under the direction of Arch L. Heady & Son at Westport Village, 7410 Westport Rd. Louisville, KY 40222. (502) 426-9351.