Buford Roach

1922 - 2016

Buford I. Roach Jr.

October 22, 1922 -
June 22, 2016

Buford ("Buff") I. Roach, Jr. died peacefully on June 22, 2016 at the age of 93. Buff was born on October 24, 1922 in Eugene, Oregon. His parents, Buford I. Roach Sr. and Emiliènne (Peggy) Préaux Roach were professional musicians. Buford Sr. was a performing violinist and instructor and Peggy was an aspiring operatic singer, having emigrated with her parents from France to New York City. Buff grew up in Eugene with his younger sister Phyllis. Although his parents hoped he would become a violinist, Buff was fascinated as a boy with electrical gadgets, and crystal and short-wave radio receivers, leading to his future career as an engineer and oil refinery manager.

From 1943 to 1946, Buff served as a Captain in the US Air Force as an airborne radar specialist in the South Pacific Island of Guam. He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Schmidt, on August 23, 1944, the beginning of more than 65 years of marriage. With her support, Buff completed his B.S. in Electrical Engineering at Oregon State University after the war. He was then offered a position at Standard Oil Company of California (now Chevron), to participate in a project to modernize the Richmond Refinery across San Francisco Bay. While living in Richmond, Buff and Patricia's two sons, Gregory and Christopher were born.

In 1962, Buff joined an engineering team in Pascagoula, Mississippi, to construct a major new refinery on the Gulf Coast, and he became the manager of operations in 1964. After expanding the capacity of the refinery, Buff accepted a similar position in El Segundo, California near Los Angeles. His career at Chevron continued at the Northwest European Operations Office in Brussels, Belgium, then later in London, England, as Vice President of European Operations. In 1984, Buff retired and returned to Eugene where he was active in the community, including serving on the IRB for Sacred Heart Hospital.

Throughout his life Buff maintained his interest in radio, and was a member of the American Radio Relay League. He and Patricia became fans of Border Terriers during their stay in London, and brought a puppy, Snip, home with them when they retired to Eugene. Buff always felt most at home in Oregon, and during their retirement years he and Patricia traveled extensively throughout Oregon, with regular visits in particular to Yachats. Buff loved spending time in the Cascade mountains and in recent years often vacationed along the Metolius River.

Buff is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Dr. Christopher Roach and Jenny Levine of San Francisco, CA, his grandchildren, Rachel and William Roach, his nieces Dr. Melissa Austin and Dr. Suzanne Austin, and nephews Kurt, Keith and Kraig Battleson and Bob, Roger, and Rick Schmidt. Buff is predeceased by his son Gregory, his wife Patricia, and his sister Phyllis Austin.

A mass and reception will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Eugene, located at 1062 Charnelton Street, on Wednesday, July 13, 12:15 pm. Memorial donations may be made to Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 10905, Eugene, OR 97440, (541) 686-6958.