Howard Joseph Rochon a resident of Lake Charles, passed away on January 9, 2012 at the Southwest Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jennings. He was born in New Iberia on August 23, 1915, the third child and only son of his late parents, Angelo Rochon and Adele Chevalier Rochon. He grew up, attended elementary school and graduated from high school in New Iberia. After moving to Lake Charles, he met and married the late Albertha Josephine Rochon.

He was a current and longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Known as "Wood", "Roch" or "Geronimo", he was a retired licensed barber and owner of Rochon's Barber Shop in Lake Charles. He was also an insurance salesman, licensed real estate agent, carpenter and licensed electrician. As a WWII Veteran, Mr. Rochon was a Staff Sergeant (SSgt) in the United States Army and received several decorations – the African Defense Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon. He was a past Commander of Mayfield-Taylor-McClain American Legion Post 551 in Lake Charles.

Love of God, family and man's prosperity encompassed Mr. Rochon's life. As a civil-rights activist, Mr. Rochon worked diligently against injustices imposed upon African-Americans at voting prescients. Howard Rochon was preceded in death by" his parents; his wife; his sons, Gabriel Angelo Rochon and Jules Raphael Rochon; grandson, Michael Jermaine Rochon; and sisters, Rose Jacobs, Inez Fondel and Aletha Rochon; caretaker, Ketrenia McCarter.

The family's patriarch leaves to mourn and cherish his memory: son, Michael (Faye) Rochon of Blue Bell, PA; daughters, Felicia Rochon of Baton Rouge, LA and Josephine Rochon Berard of Lake Charles, LA; granddaughters, Traci Rochon and Tami Rochon of Blue Bell, PA, Ravena Chante (Donald) Matthews of Baton Rouge, LA and Joachima Marie Budwine of Lake Charles, LA; grandson, Steven Howard Budwine of Lake Charles, LA; great grand-daughters, Arianna Budwine and Krista Matthews of Baton Rouge, LA, Diamond Maria Sanchez of Lake Charles, LA; great grand-sons Angelo Budwine of Lake Charles, LA, Jordan Rochon of Blue Bell, PA and Tyler Matthews of Baton Rouge, LA. He also leaves to mourn: nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grandnephews, great grand-nieces and great grand-nephews, other relatives and friends, including Evelio Sanchez.

Visitation at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lake Charles on Saturday, January 14 at 10:00 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Father Nathan Long, celebrant; Interment in Sacred Heart Cemetery under the direction of Combre Funeral Home.

The family of Howard J. Rochon thanks each and every one of you for your love and support during this time of bereavement.