ST. JOSEPH, La. — Memorial services for Roderick Claude “Doc” Lancaster, 86, of St. Joseph, La., who died Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Monroe, La., will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church of St. Joseph with the Rev. Ray Owens officiating.
A private family graveside service will be at Wesley Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday.
Doc Lancaster was born March 18, 1922, in Waterproof, La., the son of Roderick Claude Lancaster Sr. and Lillie Maude Hudnall Lancaster. He was a member of First Methodist Church of St. Joseph.
Mr. Lancaster served his country during World War II in the U.S. Coast Guard. He attended his beloved Louisiana Tech University and enjoyed going to the basketball and football games as often as possible. He was an avid hunter and sports fan, even coaching a AAA baseball team. He was most fondly known by his family and friends for his witty personality, never meeting a stranger and acquiring many friends during his long life.
Doc spent countless time delivering fresh fruit and vegetables to all his family and friends; it was the visit with them that he enjoyed the most. He was an adored father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend and will be sorely missed by all those who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Robert James Lancaster; and three sisters, Mildred McBride, Anne Chennault and Martha Seaman.
Survivors include three daughters, Claudette Fergus, husband, John, and children, David Lee Marchman and Lillie Fergus, all of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Ashlea Fowler, husband, Bryan, and son, William, all of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Lynn Frost, husband, Tom, and sons, Bradley and Nicholas Green, all of Fairport, N.Y., and Gregory Green of Peachtree, Ga.; special sister-in-law, Edna “Tut” Lancaster of St. Joseph; special niece, Jennifer Gilfoil of Lake Providence, La.; special nephew, Mack Lancaster of Oak Grove, La.; and Rob Lancaster of Abita Springs, La.
Honorary pallbearers will be David Lee Marchman, David Nations, Donald Barraza, Dr. Gerald Geisler, Dr. Lanny Johnson, Dr. Robert Gutherie Jarrell, Irby Gamble, Mack Lancaster, Rob Lancaster, Wyly Gilfoil, Miller Dent, Scott Watson and Horace “Brother” Curry.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Tensas Academy of St. Joseph, 418 Highway 128, St. Joseph, LA 71366 or St. Joseph First United Methodist Church, 440 Newton St., St. Joseph, LA 71366.
To leave online condolences for the family, visit www.youngsfh.com.