Walter Roach Jr.

Cmdr. Walter Roach, Jr. (USN Ret.), 93, one of the early naval jet pilots, died of pneumonia on Oct. 7 at Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Jacksonville Beach. He had lived in Atlantic Beach since 1990 at Fleet Landing, where he was one of the founding residents.

Born in Waco, Texas, Roach was a 4th-generation Texan whose father played poker to support the family in the Depression. After attending Texas A&M, he enlisted in the Navy in 1941. A fighter pilot, he served in World War II and the Korean War. In the 1950’s he headed Tophatters, the Navy’s oldest active squadron, and saw duty on the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal, which often operated out of Mayport.

After retiring from the Navy in 1963, Roach worked for 22 years in Baltimore for Westinghouse, for whom he did business in Japan and Israel. In 1990 he moved from Severna Park, Md., to Atlantic Beach, where he remained an avid golfer until his late 80’s.

He leaves a daughter, Elizabeth of Los Angeles, CA, and several cousins.

His wife, Ann, predeceased him in 1984. He will be buried next to her in Arlington National Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, FL.