Judith Roach

Judith K. Roach, 77, of Kingsport, passed away on Friday, December 25, 2015 at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center. She was born in Gary, Indiana and grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Paducah, Kentucky. Her parents, Lyle and Edna (Whitehurst) Roach, spent their final years in Kingsport. Judith graduated from Paducah Junior College and received a B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky. She retired from Eastman Chemical Company, where she was a Market Research Analyst. Following her retirement, she was the Director of the Singles Ministry at First Broad Street United Methodist Church for several years. Judith was a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church, and of the Keepers of the Flame Sunday School class. She volunteered in several community organizations through the years, including Contact Concern. Her interests included bridge, travel, river boating, water skiing, genealogy, nature study, and bird watching. Judith was a member of the Tennessee Ornithological Society and the Birding Kingsport chapter, which she helped organize in 2015.

She is survived by her brother, Lynn Roach and wife Sandy of Kingsport; sister-in-law, Caroline Roach of Paducah; nephews, James, Keith, and Andy Roach; niece Kerri Roach Eads of Paducah; grandnieces and grandnephews of Kentucky; and her cousin, Lynda Roach Karnes and husband Frank of Paducah.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Milner and Orr Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. with Pastor Lea Griffith officiating.

Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.

A memorial service, to be held in Kingsport, will be announced at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Shepherd Center of Kingsport, P.O. Box 382, Kingsport, Tennessee 37662, or to Missions at First Broad Street United Methodist Church, 100 East Church Circle, Kingsport, Tennessee 37660.