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Colonel William (Bill) Lawrence Roche

It is with sad hearts the family announces the peaceful passing of Colonel William (Bill) Lawrence Roche (USAF Retired) 98, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. Bill was born in Lexington, KY on November 24, 1924, to parents Walter Lawrence Roche and Anna Mangione Roche.

Bill attended Lexington Latin High School and was one of eight students to graduate in 1940. At the first opportunity after graduation, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became a B-17 Flying Fortress waist gunner. During WWII he was stationed at Deopham Green, England flying missions with the 452nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. On two occasions he was shot down, once crash landing in France, and then behind Russian lines in Poland where he was interred by the Russians and eventually repatriated to his unit three months later. In 1998, Bill returned to Assigny, France, the site of his first crash landing, where the grateful townspeople surprised him with a formal welcome, displaying pieces of his B-17.

After the war, Bill returned to Lexington, KY, and attended the University of Kentucky. Subsequently he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, serving in the US Air Force for the next 33 years as linguist and Intelligence Officer. Upon graduating from language school as a Russian linguist, Bill was assigned to the new US Air Force Academy and helped establish the Foreign Language Department where he taught students from the class of 1959, the first graduating class.

At the height of the Cold War, between tours teaching at the Academy, Bill was assigned to multiple sensitive diplomatic positions as an attaché at the US Embassies in Moscow, Prague, and Belgrade. He was stationed in Berlin, Germany where he was assigned to the elite US Military Liaison Mission in Postdam, East Germany. During his long and distinguished US Air Force career, he earned the US Legion of Merit along with numerous other awards, medals, and decorations. Upon his retirement, at the request of the CIA, Bill continued to work as a consultant. In 2008 Bill was inducted into the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Attaché Hall of Fame and in 2013 Bill was awarded the French Legion of Honor for his service to the French during WWII.

After leaving government service, Bill remained busy serving as a volunteer for Silver Key, an active member of the local veterans’ groups, and as a devoted Catholic supporting St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Monument Colorado. When not volunteering, Bill was an avid fly-fisherman, golfer, and bowler.

Bill is predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Geraldine Ferguson Roche, a brother, Anthony Joseph Roche (Marie), and a sister Patricia Roche Noplis. He is survived by his children; Kathy Roche Devlin (Jon

Dukeman) of Larkspur, Colorado, William Lawrence Roche (Mona) of Williamsburg, VA, Lawrence Oleg Roche (Robin) of Vogelbach, Germany, and James Lawrence Roche (Sue) of Aurora, Colorado.

Bill was blessed with nine grandchildren: Erin Roche, Lindsey Roche Gilliam (Chris), Jeremy DevlinAbigail Roche Shanahan (Rob), Avalon Roche, Will Roche, Grantham Roche, Julia Roche, and Parker Roche, as well as four great-grandchildren Kennedy and Ella Gilliam, and Jack and Cillian Shanahan.

He leaves behind two cherished sisters, Mary Ann Roche Foster and Rose Marie Roche of Lexington, KY, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, Ferguson family members, and countless friends fromthe 452nd Bomb Group, World War II, Air Force Academy, veterans, and fishing buddies.

Colorado funeral services will be held March 15, 2023, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Monument, Colorado with viewing at 9:30am and Mass starting at 10am with reception afterward. Services will be livestreamed. (https://www.petertherock.org)

Bill will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on a date TBD. Complete information can be found at All Veterans Funeral & Cremation (https://allveterans.com)

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Museum of World War II Aviation (https://www.worldwariiaviation.org/support/donate-now/ ).

National Museum of World War II Aviation

775 Aviation Way

Colorado Springs, CO 80916

(719) 637-7559
Our WWII surviving veterans’ number is close to 167,000 with an average of 180 deaths a day. With their passing, we are still blessed with their amazing stories. We are grateful to Mountain Media Group for documenting Bill’s story. Part One can be viewed at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e_KFns1AqRc

Attending a Funeral

Arlington National Cemetery is the most hallowed burial ground of our nation's fallen. A fully operational national cemetery since May 1864, Arlington conducts between 27 and 30 funeral services each weekday and between six and eight services on Saturdays — final farewells to fallen heroes and their family members.

Arlington is one of the few cemeteries that offers graveside burials with military funeral honors with escort. For families, a service at Arlington is the time when the United States military bestows the honors befitting the service and sacrifice of their loved one. We consider it part of our sacred trust to ensure that each funeral is executed with the utmost dignity and respect. 

We suggest wearing attire that is appropriate for the season, but also respects the dignity of the occasion. Proper footwear that allows mobility on hard and soft surfaces is recommended.

Arlington National Cemetery does not provide transportation to funerals. Attendees must provide their own transportation. 

Arlington National Cemetery requires 100% ID checks at all entrances.

Everyone should arrive at the Administration Building between 2 and 2:15 PM. The security guards on Memorial Avenue (our main entrance) will direct you to the Administration Building. All vehicles should park in your family designated queueing lane in front of the Administration Building, NOT in the visitors parking garage. Please park, enter the Administration Building, and check in at the front desk.

All visitors 16 years of age and older (pedestrians, drivers and passengers) must present a valid photo identification upon entering the cemetery. Visitors include all funeral attendees, tourists and personnel on official business. School group leaders and tour guides must also present the required identification. Original documentation is required. Paper copies or cell phone photos of identification are not accepted. 

Visitors 18 years of age and older must present a valid U.S. state or federal government-issued photo identification for entry.  

Visitors 16 and 17 years old who do not have a U.S. state or federal government-issued photo identification may present an official school-issued photo identification for entry. 

Persons who are not U.S. citizens must present a valid passport or U.S. State Department-issued photo identification for entry. 


Getting Here

Arlington National Cemetery is located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. at the end of Memorial Avenue, which extends from Memorial Bridge. Arlington is accessible from the major roadways in the D.C. area: Interstate 95, the Capital Beltway (I-495), the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (I-295).

The cemetery is also a stop on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Metrorail system. Arlington Cemetery station, on Metro's Blue line, is a short walk from the Welcome Center. 

Please Note: If you plan to use commercial bicycles or scooters, such as Capital Bikeshare or Lime, to get to the cemetery, you must leave your bike at the Arlington Cemetery Metro station. Personal bicycles only may be parked at the racks outside the Welcome Center.

https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Funerals/Funeral-Information

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Col. William Roche Obituary | Altogether