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Celebration of Life for Chuck Roach
February 8 @ 11:00am – 12:00pm
Celebration of Life for Chuck Roach
Visitation begins one hour prior at 10am.
Charles Albert (Chuck) Roach died peacefully at home in Minneapolis on November 5, 2024. He was the second oldest and final survivor of the four sons of Robert Roy and Esther (Wall) Roach of Austin, MN. Chuck was loyal to his Austin roots, as exemplified by a honeymoon grocery store run to fill their Florida apartment kitchen. His bride, Virginia Ann (Ginny) Burris Roach placed a non-Hormel® brand of bacon in the grocery cart. Chuck quickly noted this, and wanted the Hormel® brand instead. From then on, their six kids only saw packages of Black Label® bacon.
Chuck graduated from Austin High School in 1949, attended the local community college, then moved on to the University of South Dakota for his Bachelor of Arts. He continued his education at USD with medical school, finishing at the University of Minnesota. It was there that he met his wife, Ginny, over Sunday dinner at the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house. Chuck and Ginny were married on December 28, 1957 at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, where Ginny was a third-generation member. They had a family of six children and several international exchange students, and their family’s social and religious life revolved around the church for the next 67 years. Their goal as parents was to provide opportunities for their children to succeed, and they were always pleased when their children took advantage of those opportunities.
Chuck joined Dr. Frank Adair in the practice of ophthalmology in St. Paul in 1963 and had a 40-year career providing services to the community. He regarded the life he led a privilege. He was a St. Paul Rotarian, a member of various professional associations, and an avid participant in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Chuck and Ginny enjoyed biking in Minnesota, across the United States, throughout Europe, and New Zealand, the high point of which was a cross-country ride from Anacortes, WA to Provincetown, MA to raise funds for Rotary International Peace Fellowships.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Roy and Esther Wall Roach, brothers Rob, Dave and Bill, daughter Martha, and wife of 64 years, Ginny. Five remaining children survive him – Rob (Nancy Reid), Carrie, Betsi, Charlie (Leslee), and Jon (Brianna), as well as six grandchildren – Ann Dodge (Gideon), Kate (Lori VerMurlen), Jacob, August, Julia, and Calvin, and two great-granddaughters – Virginia and Molly.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church (511 Groveland Avenue, Minneapolis). Family visitation at 10:00 am, service at 11:00am with a luncheon to follow. The service will be live streamed via haumc.org. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hennepin Avenue UMC or the St. Paul Rotary Foundation.
