PORT NECHES- Phillip “Phil” Arthur Roebuck, 73, of Port Neches passed away after an extended illness. His family was gathered at his side. Phillip was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After moving to several locations in his childhood, his family eventually moved to Port Arthur in 1944. This is when his life as a Texan began. The following year his family moved to Nederland. Phillip graduated from Nederland High School in 1955, where he was an All-District football player and a Golden Glove Boxing Champion. He also received numerous academic honors and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by his classmates.
Phillip attended the University of Texas and Lamar University. During a summer break while working in Wisconsin, he met the love of his life, Susie Hardrath. They married, and he moved her back to Texas. They were married for over forty-six years before she passed away. Their marriage was a special relationship. They were inseparable and truly had a wonderful life together.
Phillip accomplished many things in his life. He was a veteran of the United States Army. Later he worked for the Atlantic Refinery and was a member of local Unions 798 and 195. In 1976, Phillip, Susie and partners founded Golden Triangle Constructors, which became Echo Maintenance. Phillip had a tremendous intellect and entrepreneurial spirit. He also founded several other successful businesses and was an avid rancher. He loved his ranches in Warren and Del Rio, Texas and prided himself in always designing and building projects to improve them.
He was a leader in the industrial contracting community for over thirty-five years. His accomplishments are too many to list. He prided himself in honesty, work ethic, integrity, and family. Phillip will be remembered as an extremely smart, hardworking, family man. He accomplished the “American Dream.”
Family was extremely important to him and he always claimed that he had “The World’s Greatest” grandkids.
Unfortunately, with all of his “Business Success,” he was not as fortunate with his health. At age 51, he was diagnosed with cancer for the first time. For over twenty years, he battled numerous illnesses and through the combination of wonderful doctors, his strong will to live, and by the grace of God, he always survived. Unfortunately, he could not conquer his last illness. Phillip always portrayed great strength and no self-pity. He was a very proud man.
Phillip is preceded in death by his wife, Susie Roebuck; infant sons, Patrick and James Roebuck; his parents, James and Vasco Roebuck; and his brothers, Jerry and Paul Roebuck. He is survived by his son and wife, Mike and Kelly Roebuck, of Nederland; his daughter and husband, Rhonda and Johnsye McDonald; his grandchildren, Chad, Marissa and J.P. McDonald and Natalie, Michael, Christopher and Ryan Roebuck; one great grandchild, Kayden McDonald; his sister Polly Ostertag of Horseshoe Bay, Texas; and his many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the numerous doctors and nurses that provided care to Phillip and a special thanks to Dr. Kahtan Kaissi and Dr. Bruce Healey.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday December 18, 2010 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church 2711 Helena, Nederland with Reverend Francis Schroeder officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 12th Street, Nederland. A gathering of family and friends will be Friday evening, December 17, 2010 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.
Serving as pallbearers will be Chad McDonald, J.P. McDonald, Michael Roebuck, Christopher Roebuck, Ryan Roebuck, and Larry Minaldi.
Honorary pallbearers will be his dedicated friends and employees of Golden Triangle Constructors, Echo Maintenance, Gulf Coast Fabricators, and Gulf Coast Sheet Metal.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 2711 Helena, Nederland, Texas 77627; M.D. Anderson Hospital, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030; or a charitable organization of choice.
