Roger Francis Barbeau

He was born on August 20, 1933 in St. Louis, Missouri to Betty Petrekovic Walsh Barbeau and John Bernard Walsh and later adopted by stepfather Wilfred A Barbeau who all predeceased him. His devoted wife of 60 yrs, Geraldine (Gerry) also predeceased him in January 2019. He will be lovingly remembered by their children Mona Barbeau, Dennis Barbeau, Cheryl Barbeau, Bryan (Dana) Barbeau, Mary (Lewis) Brandin, and Robert (Dana) Barbeau as well as grandchildren Zachary Barbeau, Drew Barbeau, Jarrod Brandin, Madelene Brandin, Zane Barbeau, Zoe Barbeau, Hannah Barbeau, Isaac Barbeau, great grandson River Ray Brandin and his in-laws Judy & Ron Klingbeil, Melissa Sylvester and family and Lyle (Kim) Klingbeil and family.

Roger is also preceded in death by his beloved Aunt Betty and Uncle Joe Smatlik, his Aunt Kate Walsh, and his cousins Fran Mills and Rick Petrekovic. He is survived by his cousins Sonny Zito (Nellie) and Joyce Petrekovic Lawrence.

Roger attended schools in East St. Louis, IL and New Athens, IL where he lived in various St. Clair county locations for 10 years. He moved to Houston in January 1950 and graduated from St. Thomas High School in Houston, TX in 1951. During high school and afterwards, he worked for the Interstate Theatre chain (Kirby, South Main Drive-in, Garden Oaks, Metropolitan) and finally as the Assistant Manager at the Alabama Theatre where he met his future wife, Gerry.

Roger served 2 years in the Army during the Korean War. His permanent assignment was with Company A of the 47th Army Field Artillery, training new recruits to fire 105 and 155 Howitzers at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. After he served in the military, he returned to Houston in May 1956 and began working for Tennessee Gas Transmission that had just completed the downtown Ten Ten Parking Garage. He did everything from ticketing and parking cars to later managing an auto service and repair business.

In August 1958, he started night school at the University of Houston. Because he had a full-time job, was married, was caring for his mother and had 5 of his 6 children by graduation, it took him 8 “wild” years to complete his BA degree in August 1964. During the school years, he also worked as a night dry goods clerk/stocker at the FedMart on Wirt road. After graduating, he accepted a job with Tennessee Gas Pipeline and ultimately transferred to Tenneco in the Supply Dept where he worked in various Information Systems depts. until he retired after 35 yrs as an IS Maintenance Project Mgr. for their critical billion-dollar Billing Systems.

Roger’s kindness and generosity was evident as a passionate church and school volunteer donating thousands of hours to St. Ambrose Church & School (e.g., Men’s Club, Bazaar Chairman, extraordinary minister, usher) and St. Pius X High School. Roger believed that “during his lifetime, he received more than his share of blessings from Missouri/Illinois/Texas teachers, employers, co-workers, relatives, and friends who helped him and had faith in him so he was always trying to pay it forward. He was sorry that he could not tell each person how thankful he was for their blessings and so he wanted us to now extend his thanks and ask that God Bless every one abundantly.” Roger will be greatly missed but we are very happy he is now reunited with his beloved Gerry.

The visitation, rosary and Mass will be held on Saturday February 21, 2026 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church beginning at 9:30am with the Mass at 11:00am. There will be a private family cemetery service and no reception lunch. Flowers can be delivered to Pat H. Foley Funeral Home (1200 W. 34th Street, Hou, 77018) or preferably, memorial donations may made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Ambrose (https://stambrosehouston.org/donations-for-saint-vincent-de-paul) or to St. Pius X High School (https://www.stpiusx.org/).