Larry Eugene “Gene” Roush, 78, lola, passed away Sunday, June 26, 2016, in Wichita.
He was born to Fred and Elvira (Coltrane) Roush, March 18,1938, in Allen County.
Gene attended Iola schools and graduated in 1957 from Iola High School. He attended trade school in Kansas City for auto mechanics. After several years of being a mechanic, he began work as a switchman, brakeman and later a conductor for the Santa Fe Railroad in Chanute and Kansas City, Kan., before he retired.
Gene married Norma Barnhart in September 1960. They later divorced. He married Laura Beal Aug. 18, 1980, who survives of the home.
Gene volunteered for years as a VFW and Babe Ruth baseball coach. He loved hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren and best friend Johnny. He never met a stranger and sometimes took what seemed like hours to just go to the store to get one thing, because he always stopped to talk. He loved people; everyone was family to him. He has many “adopted” children, brothers and sisters and all his Beal in-laws. You are very much loved and will be very missed “Old Man.”
He also is survived by children Randy Strickland, Lawrence, Teresa Dupuy (Mike), Humboldt, Jeff Roush (Denise) Hendersonville, N.C., Mary Roush, Chanute, Laura Busby (Brett) Chanute, LeAnne Rozner (Bradley) Walnut Creek, Calif., and Brad Rozner, Sun Valley, Nev; 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; brothers, Dean (Zola), Merlin (Barbara) and Phillip (Arlene) Roush; and numerous stepgrandchildren, stepgreat-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Cremation will take place. Family and friends are invited to join us for a celebration of Gene’s life from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at 505 N. Buckeye St., in Iola, at the North Community Building.
