Billy W. Roark (Bill), 82 of Columbus, died Friday, February 17, 2023 at Freeman Hospital.
Born July 19, 1940, in Columbus, Bill was the son of CoNorma (Correll) and Lester Roark.
He graduated from Cherokee County Community High School with the class of 1958.
Bill loved coon hunting, motorcycle riding, fishing, and deer hunting. He enjoyed coaching youth sports. He loved to attend Columbus wrestling watching his son and grandsons. There was rarely an auction that he missed. He was a 50year member of the Columbus Masonic Lodge.
He worked for Pepsi Cola company for a number of years and Frisco Railroad which became BNSF Railroad. He retired in 2000 and spent all of his weekends at his lake house on Grand Lake with his wife Linda and his children, grand-children and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by one son, Rusty Roark, sister in-law Pat Roark and several aunts and uncles.
Bill was united in marriage June 13, 1959, to his high school sweetheart Linda Roark to whom he was married for 63 years. She survives of the home. Additional survivors include two daughters Cindy Zahm and Lesta Hall (husband Doug), both of Columbus; one brother Bob Roark, Columbus; and one sister Connie McGuire, Erie; a grandson Adam Roark (who lived with him); and grandsons Nick Zahm, Curt Zahm (wife Hannah), Jake Zahm and Brian Hall. Grand-daughter Kaitlyn Baldwin (husband Rob) and great-grandkids Zack, Journey, Lucy, Isaac, and Elias also survive.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 23 at the Park Cemetery Pavilion, Columbus. Arrangements are under the direction of Derfelt Funeral Home, Columbus, KS