James Hughlett LaRoche

James Hughlett LaRoche, 90, died Jan. 28, 2008, at the Hospice of Baton Rouge Wing of Ollie Steele Burden Home. He was born in Cocoa, Fla., and graduated from Georgia Tech in 1940 in chemical engineering. He served in World War II for four years and retired as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. He worked for Exxon Chemical Co. for 42 years in Baton Rouge. He was a trustee of the Woman's Health Foundation and was president of the board in 1978. Preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Boone LaRoche, of Cocoa. He is survived by his wife, Doris Hill LaRoche; and three children, Ronald Lee, of Boca Raton, Fla., Gayle L. Furlow, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., and James Boone II, of Austin, Texas; three grandchildren, Preston Lee, of Maui, Hawaii, Renee Leigh LaRoche, of Sebastian, Fla., and Alison Rochelle Furlow, of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; and a sister, Nancy DeGrove, of Tallahassee, Fla. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Funeral service at the funeral home on Thursday at 11 a.m., followed by a graveside ceremony at Roselawn Cemetery on North Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or to Hospice of Greater Baton Rouge.