Leroy Koch

LeRoy Wayne Koch (Lee) passed away September 26, 2019 at age 95. He was born near Reddick, Illinois February 22, 1924. Lee graduated from Kankakee High School at the age of 16, worked as campus cook while attending Blackburn Junior College in Carlinville, Illinois, and graduated from Blackburn in 1943. Lee joined the United States Marine Corps during WWII and was assigned to V-12 officer training at Northwestern University. During his training, he studied science and engineering at Northwestern and at the University of Rochester in New York. A “stellar” athlete, Lee played varsity basketball at Blackburn and varsity football at Rochester. During the last two minutes of the 1944 Rochester-NY Union College football game, Lee’s leg was badly broken, and he missed the chance to play in the 1944 Yale Bowl game. During his year-long hospitalization, his officer class was sent to Iwo Jima. Lee graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in General Science. After the war, Lee met his future wife Marian Hancock at the University of Illinois, where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Lee became a Professional Engineer and moved to Beaumont, Texas, where he was employed for 40 years by the Pure Oil Company, which was later combined with Union Oil. He rose through the ranks to become the Union Oil Beaumont refinery’s General Superintendent and Chief Engineer.

Lee and Marian were married in 1947 and enjoyed 72 years together. Son Gordon was born in 1954, followed by Susan, Jeanne and James. The family traveled throughout the US, visiting national parks, scenic roads and historic places. Lee’s favorite vacation spot was Estes Park, Colorado and the Rocky Mountain National Park, which they visited many times. His last road trip was at the age of 86, when he, Marian and James traveled through Minnesota to hike and fish in northern Ontario, Canada.

Lee and Marian were charter members of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, and remained active in the church throughout their married life. Lee served as a Deacon, Elder, Trustee and Treasurer of St. Andrews. Lee cared deeply for the church itself, and was a key figure in designing and building the Memorial Garden. In the early days before the sanctuary was built, he was known to sweep the Fellowship Hall steps before Sunday service. In old age, he alarmed the church staff by climbing his ladder to touchup the paint on the basketball backboards. Lee and his father erected the basketball goals at St. Andrews, that have been used by three generations of Beaumonters. Lee was always interested in sports, enjoyed bowling and swimming, and played golf into his 90s.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Lillian Koch of Kankakee, Illinois; brother, Robert Koch of Akron, Ohio; sister, Dorothy Simpson of Ann Arbor, Michigan; son, Gordon Koch; and son-in-law, John Farris. He is survived by his wife, Marian; brother, Carleton Koch of Scottsdale, Arizona; daughters, Susan Farris of Springtown and Jeanne Cobb and her husband, David, of Houston; son, James; and numerous nieces, nephews and their families. The family wishes to thank caregivers Belinda Dill, Sherrill Mayes and Gloria Renfro for their kind assistance and care of Lee and Marian.

A gathering of Mr. Koch’s family and friends will begin at 2:00 p.m., with his memorial service to follow at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, October 3, 2019, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont. His cremation arrangements will be handled through Broussard’s Crematorium under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 0843, Beaumont, Texas 77704.