Robert Roach

LETART — Robert (Bob) Dale Roach went to be with the Lord on Aug. 30, 2015.

He was born Oct. 4, 1933, son of Ira Dale and Leona Virginia Roach.

Bob, a well-known local artist, had an amazing artistic talent of drawing portraits of people and many paintings, and bending stainless steel into 13 unforgettable statues.

As a young boy, at the age of 3, his dad would bring home bars of ivory soap and Bob would carve horses, chickens and dogs. The teachers in his elementary school discovered his talent and asked him to draw a picture on the chalkboard of a reindeer pulling a sleigh over the town.

During retirement, Bob established a talent in sculpting stainless steel statues that led to his profound and brilliant talent of the magnificent creations displayed around Point Pleasant, Mason and New Haven. He is best known for the creation of the stainless steel Mothman statue that stands in Gunn Park in Point Pleasant and has became its own popular tourist destination. Bob was well known in the community and was constantly seen driving around in his unique Ford truck that he had completely refurbished with stainless steel.

Bob served his country in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the American Legion Post 140 of New Haven. He was as member of the New Haven Road Angels.

Bob was awarded the Hometown Hero Award of New Haven, W.Va., by WSAZ in recognition and appreciation of the stainless steel Firefighter stature that he had sculpted and donated to the New Haven Fire Department.

In recent days, Bob was presented with two awards. The first being a Certificate of Recognition signed by West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, for his noteworthy and substantial contributions of art that reflect the cultured history of Mason County, as well as the great state of West Virginia. The second award was from the House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature commending Bob for artistic talent.

Bob retired from Mountaineer Power Plant as a maintenance department welding supervisor in December 1995. Previous to working at Mountaineer Power Plant, he also worked at the Mitchell, Kyger Creek, John Amos and Gavin power plants, which is where Bob developed his welding skills

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Ira Dale Roach and Leona Virginia Walkup Roach. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his stepmother Mabel Roach; an infant brother, Donald Raymond Roach; and sister Nellie Marie Roach Brannon.

He is survived by his two daughters, Tracey Ann Roach Colley, of New Haven, and Kelly Dawn Roach Miller (Scott), of Mason; grandchildren Cory Robert Colley (Christinia), Landon Travis Colley, Ryan Shae Ohlinger (Heather) and Micah Leigh Ohlinger; great-grandchildren Allison Jean Colley, Grant Thomas Colley, Khloe La'Shae Ohlinger and Kennedy Rilynn Ohlinger; sisters Carole June Roach McGee (Charles), Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Norma Lee Roach Hall (Martin), of Hamilton, Ohio, Margie Jane Roach Reuter (Paul), of Urbana, Ohio, and Sharon Rose Roach Fields (Gary), of New Haven; stepsisters Kathleen Kearns, of Letart, and Betty Argabrite, of Letart; brothers John (Jack) William Roach, of Letart, and David Kyle Roach (Beverly), of Letart; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation with family will be noon Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, followed by a celebration service at 2 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in New Haven, with pastors Jason Simpkins and Brian May officiating. Military honors will be presented by American Legion Post 140 and VFW Post 9926.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bob can be made to New Haven United Methodist Church, Soul Harvest Church or Fairview Bible Church.

A registry is available at www.andersonfh.com.

Bob was a giving, caring person and a wonderful father and will be greatly missed.