Joseph Frederick Rousch Sr. ‘Freddy’

Published 10:54 am Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Joseph Frederick Rousch Sr. ‘Freddy’

Joseph Frederick Rousch Sr. “Freddy”, 78 years of age, passed away from cancer on Jan. 3, at his home in Chester, with his loving family by his side. Freddy was born March 27, 1946, in Cumberland, to the late Joseph Theodore Rousch and Pauline Ingle Rousch. 

Freddy married the love of his life Martha Louise Owen July 31, 1966, and together they had two children, Joseph Frederick Rousch Jr. and Michael Brandon Rousch. 

Freddy joined the United States Airforce in 1966 and served in Vietnam as an aircraft mechanic, flight engineer and SGT until 1969 when he was honorably discharged. During Vietnam he earned many metals but the most important was when he earned The Distinguished Flying Cross.

Freddy owned and operated his business Lawrence Truck Service in Richmond for 33 years, where he met many loyal customers that became friends over those years. To have known Freddy was to love him. He was the most caring husband, father, poppy and friend. He would offer a helping hand to anyone he ever met. Freddy enjoyed going hunting, fishing, family cookouts, telling stories, working on tractors and many other projects that he accumulated over the years. Freddy and his son Michael were able to start and finish one project that meant the most to him over the last 30 years, his 1958 Chevrolet Fleetside pickup doing a complete frame off restoration during this last year. 

Freddy was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Annie Arndt Rousch and Henry Rousch and his maternal grandparents Jennie Evans Ingle and William Henry Ingle all from Cumberland. Freddy is also preceded in death by his stepmother, Polly Simpson Rousch, his brother, William “Bill” Rousch and sister-in-law, Barbara Rousch.

Left to cherish his memories are his wife Lu of 58 years; his son, Joey; his son, Mikey and his daughter by love, Kristina, and her son, Hunter (Lindsay) and great grandson, Kohen; his grandson, Tyler and granddaughter, Aubrey and their mother, Sarah; his siblings, Betty Jo Leadbetter (Lee), Katherine Dix (Ricky) and Harry (Pat) Rousch; his loving sisters-in-law, Agnes, Jo Ann (Jerry), Jolly and Mary (Kenneth) and many cousins, nephews, and nieces. Freddy is also survived by his lifelong friends, Melvin (Vertia Mae) Jamerson, Butch-Percy (Gloria) Wright, Tony (Joyce), Keith (Chelsie) Mitchell, and many other loving friends.

A visitation for all will be on Thursday, Jan. 9, from 4-7 p.m., at Puckett Funeral Home in Farmville. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, Jan. 10, at Puckett funeral home at 11 a.m. with graveside to follow at Jones Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery off Trents Mill Road in Cumberland.

Pallbearers will be Michael Rousch, Michael Hunter Ayers, Melvin Jamerson, Keith Mitchell, Tony Mitchell, Alan Watts, Vincent Cuozzo and E.E Talbott. 

Honorary Pallbearers will be Butch (Percy) Wright, Jerry Giles SR, Steve Rousch, Oliver Stiff and Francisco Villa.

The family of Freddy would like to thank Dr. Peter Miller MD, and Dr. Purvi Shah MD for their special care that they’ve provided him over the last several years. We also appreciate Dr. Reginald Mason MD for his positivity and assisting the family with numerous questions. We would like to thank the entire medical team and staff for keeping our loved one fighting the hardest battle he ever had to face. Thank you all from the Rousch Family.

Puckett Funeral Home is serving the family. www.puckettfh.com.