Gilford - Surrounded by his family, Edmond Phillip “Bob” Roucher, Jr. of 27 Hatch Drive passed away at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA on January 11th, 2013 after a sudden illness.
Bob was born in Laconia on November 4th, 1937 to Edmund Phillip “Bob” Roucher, Sr. and Lillian (Costello) Roucher and grew up on Union Avenue.
He was a graduate of Laconia High School in 1955 where he played for the Laconia Sachems Football Team and was also active at the Belknap County Ski Jump Complex located at Mount Rowe (now Gunstock), competing on the 60-meter jump.
Bob married the love of his life, Elaine Bickford, on December 5th, 1959.
He was employed as a mason for ‘Curly’ Burke and later for Phillip Roux, both of Laconia. He then began his career as a automotive salesperson for Cantin Chevrolet, also in Laconia, where he remained employed for over 50 years. He was an avid bowler in both the candlepin Mixed Doubles League at the Laconia Bowling Alley and the ten-pin Mixed Doubles League at the Highway Lanes on Court Street in Laconia. Bob was also an avid golfer and a member of the Laconia Country Club on Elm Street in Laconia, participating in the Men’s Twilight League. He was also an active member of the Knights of Columbus and generously donated to his parish and numerous other charities.
During his retirement years, Bob and his wife, Elaine, spent their winters in Fort Myers, Florida. Recently he devoted most of his time caring for her during her long period of illness. He will be best known as a loving husband and father.
Bob is survived by his sister, Jeanne (Roucher) McElroy, and her husband, James, of Farragut, Tennessee; his daughters, Cheryl A. Roucher of Belmont, NH, Karen L. Stecher and her husband, Thomas D., of Gilford, NH and Melissa R. Mullen and her husband, John M., of Litchfield, NH; his grandchildren, Dale P. Morel, of Farmington, NH, Blake E. Hanks of Conway, NH, Kaylee A. Whitney of Laconia, NH, Addy L. Harwood and her husband, Brady, of Newbury, NH, Adam D. Mullen of Litchfield, NH, Gunnar T. and Beck W. Stecher of Gilford, NH, and his great-grandson, Dominic J. Hanks, of Tamworth, NH, along with several nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his wife of 52 years, Elaine R. (Bickford) Roucher, his father, Edmund Phillip “Bob” Roucher, Sr. and his mother, Lillian (Costello) Roucher, both of Gilford, his sister, Claire (Roucher) Roux, of Gilford and his son, Douglas S. Roucher of Laconia.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday, January 16th, 2013 from 6 to 8 PM in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Thursday, January 17th, 2013 at St. Andre Bessette Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 291 Union Avenue, Laconia, NH.
Spring burial will be held on Friday May 10, 2013 at 10:00AM in the family lot in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Laconia, N.H.
For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the Saint Andre-Bessette Parish for Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Avenue, Laconia. NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is assisting the family. For more information and to view an online memorial go to
www.wilkinsonbeane.com.