Hugh William Roark

He was born October 26, 1929 near Boliver, TN. He earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee Law School in 1951. Later that year he joined the US Marine Corp and was assigned the rank of Lieutenant. In 1952, Hugh was admitted to the TN Supreme Court allowing him a license to practice law. While in the Marines, he was assigned to the West Coast Naval Legal offices in San Francisco and later Hawaii until 1959, rising to the rank of Captain. Hugh left the Marines and came back to work for State Farm Insurance until 1975.

In 1975, Hugh began serving as Assistant Commonwealth Attorney as a circuit court prosecutor. In 1982 Hugh was elected as District Court Judge. In 1986, the Circuit Court Judge position became open and Hugh was appointed the position by Gov. Martha Lane Collins. He served multiple terms as Circuit Court Judge until he retired in January 2000. Hugh enjoyed music, jigsaw puzzles, farming and genealogy research tracing his ancestry back multiple centuries.

Judge Roark was proceeded in death by his wife of 60 years, Janis Roark.

Survivors include sons Walter Roark (Kelly Ballard Roark) of Elizabethtown, KY and Daniel Close (Joyce Fourman Close) of Lebanon, OH; five grandchildren Nathan Roark (Nic Ellison) of Huntsville, AL, Sarah Roark (Morgan Musselwhite) of Tampa, FL, Matthew (Patricia) Close of West Chester, OH, Adam Close of Lebanon, OH, Christopher (Kaitlin) Close of Miamisburg, OH; two great-grandchildren Hunter and Aiden Close.

Visitation will be 2pm – 6pm on Sunday May 19th at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown, KY. Funeral Service will be 11 am on Monday May 20th at Brown Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest in the family plot at Magnolia Cemetery in Magnolia, KY.