Richard Roark

The memorial services celebrating and honoring the life of Richard Roark, 81, of Enid, will be held 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 27, 2021, in the St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church with Father John Toles officiating. Complete cremation care and services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home.

Richard was born July 28, 1940, to Jesse and Sarah Roark in Charleston, West Virginia and passed from this life October 15, 2021, in Enid, Oklahoma.

He moved as a young boy with his family following his father’s medical career and spent most of his childhood in Water Valley Mississippi. He then attended Subiaco Benedictine Academy in Subiaco Ark.  graduating in 1958. While attending the University of Albuquerque he met the love of his life Judy Jones, they were married December 28, 1965. He graduated with a degree in English Literature in 1967. The couple moved to Pennsylvania to be near his wife’s family.

He worked as a night watchman at the hospital his wife worked at, as a milk tester at a dairy farm and a French teacher.

In 1974 the couple moved back to Albuquerque where he worked as an insurance salesman while returning to school to become a respiratory therapist. He worked as a respiratory therapist for two years and then worked as a sound technician for a Christian audio recording company for several years. In 1988 he went to work at Albuquerque Central New Mexico Community College as an English tutor for the next 22 years. He was a faithful member of the Catholic Faith and in 1974 he converted to the Episcopal Church.  He loved singing and listening to Classic Opera. He was also a talented writer, writing essays and fiction.

He is survived by daughter Erica Roark, of Enid, son Jon Roark and wife Heidi, of Aurora, CO, sister, Kathleen and David Smith; grandchildren Eric, Aaron, Sarah, and Rachel Roark; nieces Laura Cater, Jessica Moore (Wes), Avadelle Hibbets (Brent), Sarah Laubach (Charles), Dora Baker (Michael); and numerous other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Judy Roark, his parents Jesse and Sarah Roark, his sister Ann Martin, his brother Jesse Jr., his "birthday mama” Mary Roark, and infant son Charles Richard.

Memorials may be made in his honor to the St. Matthews Episcopal Church or the Enid Symphony with Brown-Cummings Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.

Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family online at WWW.Brown-Cummings.com .