Thomas Bradshaw Roach Jr.

CHAPIN - With heavy hearts, we said our last goodbyes to one of the sweetest, kindest, loving and generous men we had the pleasure to call Daddy and Pop. Pop left his earthly body at home to be with Nanny in heaven on Saturday, August 26, 2017. He lived a long faithful life, just 4 weeks shy of turning 103. Thomas Bradshaw Roach Jr., 102, the youngest son of the late Harriett Pauline Hall Roach and Thomas Bradshaw Roach Sr. was born on September 20, 1914. He was predeceased by his parents, sisters Blanche Roach Bass, Claudia O’Neal Roach, twin infant sisters (at birth), his son-in-law Adrian Bost, and his beloved wife of 57 years, Mary Lee Monts Roach. He is survived by his two daughters, Harriette Roach Bost and Janice Roach Woody and her husband Ron; grandchildren Ainslee Bost Graham, Kevin Adrian Bost (Lindsay), David Bradshaw Woody and Jonathan Arthur Woody; great-grandchildren Schaffer O’Neal Graham, Connor Adrian Graham and Blake Adrian Bost. Nieces Sandra Price, Linda Kay Fisher, Elizabeth (Lib) Thrash and nephew Jimmy Bass(Helen) and their families. T.B. was born on Elmwood Avenue, which at the time was a dirt road that ended at the Elmwood Cemetery. As a youngster, he rode cable cars into the city. He graduated from Columbia High School in 1932 and from Clemson Agriculture & Military (A&M) College in 1936, with a degree in Textile Engineering as a member of Phi Psi Fraternity. He served 4 years active duty in the Army during World War II in North Africa and Europe, followed by 25 years in the Army reserves where he retired as a Lt. Colonel. After the war, he worked at Maxwell Brothers Furniture Co. in downtown Columbia. T.B. met Mary Lee the love of his life in 1946 when a friend asked him to give the young lady a ride to a funeral as he was one of few with an automobile at that time. They were married at the McCormick County Courthouse on July 5, 1947. He later owned Furniture Distributors Inc., which was located in front of the Adluh Flour Building on Gervais Street. He later worked at Owen Steel until his retirement. A life-long member of Arsenal Hill Presbyterian Church, he was an Elder Emeritus. In the 1960,’s he built a sailboat and enjoyed many years sailing at Lake Murray. An avid reader, he read 4 to 5 books a week until January of this year, when he lost his sight. He was a self-made man who always had a project in his back pocket. His grandchildren introduced him to the computer and he embraced it paying bills and sharing emails with friends and family. To celebrate his 100th birthday, T.B. and his family took an excursion to Charleston, SC where they sailed on the Schooner Pride, a three-mast schooner. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Palmetto Health Hospice especially Kim, Janie, Charlotte and Charles and all the staff of the Laurel Oaks Wing(4th Floor) of the Palmetto Hospital-Parkridge for making Dad’s last days as comfortable as possible. The family welcomes your visit on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at the Dunbar Funeral Home - Dutch Fork Chapel from 12 noon to 1:15 pm. Funeral services will commence at 1:30 pm with gravesite services following at the Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Arsenal Hill Presbyterian Church 1103 Laurel Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or Palmetto Health Hospice P.O. Box 352 Newberry, SC 29108. Fly high on that beautiful sailboat to Nanny. We will miss you dearly. We love you Pop.