Dr. Lewis Marshall Roch Ii

Dr. Lewis Marshall Roch II, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, physician, and entrepreneur passed away peacefully at home at the age of 86 with his wife, Afton, and children by his side on April 14, 2021.

Marshall, as he was known, was considered a true gentleman and was respected by all who knew him.  He was a happy and joyous man to his last days on earth, giving comfort and solace to family, friends, employees, coworkers, and associates.  He was wise and kind, never uttering a negative word about anyone.  He was a beloved companion to his wife, an ideal role model for his son, and an inspiration for his daughter.  Referring to his wife, he often would repeat that she was “the best thing that ever happened to me.”  Marshall was the perfect example of a life well lived.

Marshall, a 6^th generation Texan, was born in a home delivery in the midst of the Depression on August 13, 1934 in Mineola, Texas.   He grew up in East Texas, attending Central Elementary School and graduating from Henderson High School in May 1952 with honors.  At Henderson High School, Marshall’s leadership talents became evident.  He was vice president of the band, a yearbook photographer, member of the student council, and a participant in Boy’s State.  He was also awarded the March of Dimes Fellowship for special research in biological and physical sciences related to medicine.

Outside of academics, Marshall was an active Boy Scout, earning the coveted rank of Eagle Scout on June 6, 1950, at the age of 15.  As a Boy Scout, he took a 6-day float trip on the Sabine River from Coal Shoals near Tatum, Texas to Logansport, Louisiana; was employed as a Quartermaster for three summers at BSA Camp Tonkawa; was an Explorer Scout after obtaining his Eagle; was a member of the Order of the Arrow, BSA’s honor society; and attended the 1950 BSA National Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

In 1955 he completed a pre-med program at The University of Texas at Austin in three years with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Zoology, and then earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas in 1959.

Following medical school, he did his internship from 1959 to 1960 as a commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard at the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.  He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the USPHS Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1963.  Following his residency, he became the Deputy Chief of Ophthalmology in Seattle, Washington from 1963 to 1964 before being promoted to Chief of Ophthalmology in 1964.

While proudly serving his country, he completed a tour of duty in the North Atlantic on Ocean Station Charlie as chief medical officer of US Coast Guard Cutter Spencer (W36), a 327-foot Secretary Class cutter commissioned in 1937.  The mast and bell of the Spencer, one of the most highly decorated ships in the fleet, were placed on display at the New York Intrepid Sea and Air Museum.

Dr. Roch went into the USPHS, the uniformed medical services for the United States Coast Guard, as a Lieutenant Junior Grade.  In 1967, when he mustered out, he was a full Commander, the youngest Commander in the history of the Coast Guard, with the exception for war time promotions for battle duty.  At the time he mustered out, he was offered, as an inducement to stay, the Chief of Ophthalmology position at the New Orleans USPHS Hospital, head of the residency training program, a professorship at Tulane University, and the rank of Captain, which would have made him the youngest Captain in any of the armed services, had he accepted.

Instead, he chose a completely different career path.  Dr. Roch decided to move his family to Muncie, Indiana and start a private ophthalmology practice of his own.  From 1967 until his retirement from active practice in 1999, Dr. Roch was considered a pillar of the local medical community.

As with everything he did, he touched the lives of countless individuals.  As a physician, he was a trailblazer in medicine.  He was a pioneer in the establishment of outpatient ambulatory surgery centers.  He was innovative in both laser surgery and intraocular lens implantation in cataract surgery.  He was on the cutting edge of integration of physician’s practices with hospital health care delivery systems.  By the time of his retirement from surgery at 65, his practice had touched the lives of tens of thousands of individuals in need, with him personally performing over 20,000 successful cataract surgeries and restoring vision to thousands.

Dr. Roch absolutely loved what he was doing.  He oft repeated, “I have never worked;  I just go to the operating room and play!”

As a medical entrepreneur, he created one of the largest comprehensive ophthalmology practices in the country, providing medical and surgical eye care grounded in the philosophy that emphasizes compassion and personalized services.  He was devoted to delivering the highest quality care and specialty expertise in all facets of eye care including cataract surgery, cornea disease and trauma, glaucoma, laser vision correction refractive surgery, retinal disease and surgery, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, diabetic eye care, and general eye disease.  He grew his practice to employ over 24 doctors and numerous support staff with offices in twelve cities (Muncie, Winchester, Marion, Richmond, Connersville, Kokomo, Portland, New Castle, Union City, and Fort Wayne, Indiana plus Greenville and Eaton, Ohio), and four outpatient surgicenters (Muncie, Richmond, Marion, and Fort Wayne, Indiana).

Dr. Roch was an attending ophthalmic surgeon; member of the board of directors; chief of surgery; chairman of the department of surgery, surgical council, clinical staff, executive committee; and member of the finance, utilization, library, tissue, medical, emergency services, ethics, bylaws, and credentials committees, Ball Memorial Hospital (Cardinal Health Ventures).  He was also founder, chief executive officer, medical director, Eye Center Group LLC and Muncie Eye Center, Muncie; founder, Chief Executive Officer, medical director, Surgicenter Group, LLC and Muncie Eye Surgicenter, LLC, Muncie; and clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine.

Dr. Roch was also active in various professional organizations:  president, Muncie Academy of Medicine; fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology; American Association of Ophthalmologists; executive committee, Indiana Academy Ophthalmology; diplomat, American Board of Ophthalmology; American College of Physicians Executives; fellow, American College of Surgeons; American Medical Association; American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons; member, Contact Lens Society of America; Delaware-Blackford County Medical Society;  House of Delegates, Indiana State Medical Association; Southern Medical Association; International Eye Foundation; and member, International Society of Eye Surgeons.

After retiring from his practice, Dr. Roch remained active in the Muncie community and civic organizations as trustee, Minnetrista Cultural Center; board of directors, Muncie-Delaware Chamber of Commerce; chairman and executive vice president, Muncie-Delaware Economic Development; board of directors, United Way Delaware County; Rotary International; and Ball State University Business Forecasting Roundtable.

Dr. Roch was also an avid traveler having traveled extensively in the United States and internationally with his wife, Afton, to places including England, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, India, Kenya, Canada, Greenland, Mexico, Bahamas, West Indies, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, Tibet, Sri Lanka, and China.  He also enjoyed exploring Roch ancestry with his son in Ireland and Scotland, cruising to Canada with his daughter, and taking his grandchildren to Egypt.

Lewis Marshall Roch II, often referred to as L. Marshall Roch, was born to the late Lewis Marshall Roch and Gladys Irene (Hoover) Roch.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Robert Hoover Roch of Houston, Texas.  He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lois Afton (Price) Roch, Muncie, Indiana; children Lewis Marshall Roch III and wife Susan of North Hampton, New Hampshire, and Dr. Katrina Ann Roch Seitz and husband David of Indianapolis, Indiana; grandchildren Lewis Marshall Roch IV and wife Jessica of Winchester, Massachusetts, Stephanie Danielle Roch of Somerville, Massachusetts, and Eric Matthew Roch of North Hampton, New Hampshire; great-grandchildren Lewis Marshall Roch V, Christopher Andrew Roch, and soon-to-arrive great-granddaughter; sister-in-law Margaret Lynn Roch Guggolz, Houston, Texas; nieces Sharon Elaine (Roch) Young and husband Donald of Houston, Texas, Carolyn Diane (Roch) Henneman and husband Matthew of Houston, Texas, and their families; and many Price family in-laws.

There will be a private family service with military honors at Washington Park North Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana.  Online condolences can be made at flannerbuchanan.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Minnetrista Cultural Center, 1200 N Minnetrista Pkwy, Muncie, IN 47303 or www.minnetrista.net.