Bobby Lewis Broach

1933 - 2023

Bobby Lewis Broach, cherished family man and esteemed educator, passed away on July 29, 2023, in Conway, Arkansas. He was born on March 30, 1933, in Jerusalem, Arkansas, and spent his 90 years of life dedicated to faith, family and education.

After growing up in Wooster and graduating from Greenbrier Schools, Bob attended Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA). There he began dating his future wife, Maggie Ann (Purtle). The couple wed in June of 1953, marking the beginning of a devoted union that would last over 70 years.

Bob, or "Coach Broach" as he was known to some, worked as a public-school coach, teacher and administrator. His career spanned 36 years and seven school districts throughout rural Arkansas. He served as an elder at the University Church of Christ in Conway. His leisure time was filled with highly-skilled domino games, watching basketball games and horse races, keeping tabs on former students, and a decades-long battle against the pine trees that littered their needles on his otherwise pristine lawn.

Bob was preceded in death by his infant son, Bryan Lancing Broach; his parents, Johnnie Eddy Broach and Lewis Broach; two brothers, Max Broach and Lyndon Broach; and three sisters, Sue Blankenship, Dottie Hayes and Dean Shaw.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Ann; children, Loretta Gates of Conway, Steve Broach of Conway and Keith Broach of Hot Springs Village; five grandchildren, Jamie, Bryan, Sana, Bailey and Reagan; seven great-grandchildren; and a vast number of friends, former students and loved ones.

A service to celebrate Bob's life will take place at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway, Arkansas, on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. Open visitation will be on Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the UCA Foundation Bob and Ann Broach Educators Scholarship Fund to help support the state's next generation of small-town educators.