Gene Edward Roark

Gene Edward Roark was born or June 8, 1921, to Charles and Catherine Roark in Richmond, Missouri. He passed on to be with the Lord on May 9, 2012. Gene was reared in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he graduated with honors from the University of Tulsa. He had a long and interesting career in the oil business—and was sorry for anyone who was not an engineer. He was president in succession of James A. Lewis Engineering in Dallas, Texas, Husky Oil Company in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and I.M.C. Exploration in Houston. He was a distinguished lecturer in Canada and the United States for the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AAIME. He was named a Hometown Hero in Houston, Texas. After retirement he served Bunker Hill as Fire Commissioner, Police Commissioner, alderman on the city council, and as Mayor for three terms.

Gene was very interested in aiding youth in getting an education and worked with several groups as well as individual action. He was always active in his church and was a deacon at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, First Baptist Church in Calgary, and Second Baptist and Tallowood Baptist Churches in Houston.

Gene loved life and enjoyed many varied experiences. He read great books, played a good game of bridge, loved to dance, and enjoyed planning trips for his Sunday School class. He drank dark roast coffee made in a tin can on oil rigs on four continents. In Canada he dug up a clay tennis court and raised a fabulous garden. He rode a camel, kissed the blarney stone, toured Venice in a gondola, and traveled the world for business and pleasure.

His primary joy in life was his family. He is survived by his wife Kathryn (Katie) of 68 years and by his children: daughter Jill Gamble, son Rick and his wife Linda, and son Sean Kevin and his wife Leslie. His grandchildren are Kate Dickman, Paul Gamble, Shannon Boswell, Megan Reece, Brooke Benton, David Roark, and Bryant Roark. Great-grandchildren are Anna Katherine, Liza, and Lucy Boswell, Ben and Claire Dickman, River and Ruby Reece, Asher and Lawson Benton, and Addison Roark. He is also survived by his sister Mary Kate Wentworth and husband Don and by his brother-in-law Dr. Dan Rainbolt and his wife Dean as well as by beloved niece and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 12, 2012.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to Tallowood Baptist Church, the Salvation Army, or Herman Hospital Hospice.