Pharmacist and civic leader Robert O’Neal Boudreaux died on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, at the age of 93. Born on May 19, 1929, in Opelousas, La., he was a graduate of Opelousas High School.
Robert enlisted in the Navy and served as a corpsman with the First Marine Division. On Dec. 26, 1952, he was wounded during enemy fire but continued to rescue and administer first aid to his comrades while refusing first aid for himself.  For these acts of bravery, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star, the military’s third highest award for valor in combat.
Robert attended McNeese State University and the University of Houston College of Pharmacy, graduating in 1959. In 1960, he and his pharmacist brother, James Jerome “Jerry” Boudreaux acquired their family’s business, Boudreaux’s New Drug Store in Lake Charles, La., operating it together for over 40 years.
In 1961, Robert married Leneta Mae Doucet of Iota, La. Together they had seven children: John Damian Boudreaux, Alyce-Elise Hoge (Brad), Anne Pancol (George), James Douglas Boudreaux (Jennifer), Claire Bateman (David), Caroline Boudreaux (Ed Goble), and André Boudreaux (Tatiana). In 1985, the Diocese of Lake Charles named them “Family of the Year.”
In 1969, Robert was elected to the Lake Charles City Council. His most notable achievements during his tenure were spear-heading the building of the Lake Charles Civic Center and successfully fighting for infrastructure to Goosport, an historically underserved minority community in north Lake Charles.
For six years, Robert served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Louisiana State Board of Pharmacy. During his career, he won many prestigious professional awards including the William P. O’Brien Award for Innovative Pharmacy Achievement (1984) and the Bowl of Hygeia Award for Community Service (1992), both from the Louisiana Pharmacy Association, and National Pharmacist of the Year (along with his brother) by Professional Compounding Centers of America (1996). He was a charter member and the first president of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacy.
Robert was a founding member of the McNeese Cowboy Club, a charter member of the Lake Charles Bridge Club and a lifetime member of the American Contract Bridge League where he held the rank of Gold Life Master. He served on the St. Louis High School PTO and booster club and the boards of Moss Regional and Lake Charles Memorial hospitals.
Above all, Robert was devoted to God and service to others. A parishioner of Immaculate Conception Cathedral for over 60 years, he served on the first parish council and, over the years as a lector, eucharistic minister, greeter, and prison minister. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and an advocate and speaker for the Calcasieu Area Right to Life. In 1995, he was honored as “Evangelizer of the Year” by the parish.
Robert enjoyed life, family and friends. Blessed with a sense of humor, he loved to make people (especially children) laugh.
Robert is preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Leneta; mother and father, Gladys Hohorst and Amilcar Jean Boudreaux; brothers, Charles, Albert, James and Jerry Boudreaux; sisters, Jane Smith and Sr. Elise Boudreaux, Daughter of Charity; and granddaughter, Andréa Boudreaux.
He is survived by his seven children; 16 grandchildren, Nichole Boudreaux Silver (Ed), Anna Boudreaux, Monique Boudreaux (Tim Brainard), Nicholas Hoge (Jessica), Noah and Laura Hoge, Allison Pancol Cherry (Kevin), Lindsey Pancol Madinger (Derek), Samantha Pancol, Camille, Anthony, and Grace Boudreaux, Andrew and Avery Claire Bateman, Emma and Robert Boudreaux; 11 great-grandchildren, Imogen and Tobias Silver, Emilia Brainard, Kalynn Milholen, Bailey Johnson, Taylor, Lavryk and Raelyx Hoge; Michaela and Dawson Garner and Eli Pancol; in-laws, Theresa (Shaheen) Boudreaux, Selma (Doucet) Thompson and Bob and Norma (Doucet) Atwell, as well as godchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 935 Bilbo Street, Lake Charles, La. on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 with visitation at 1 p.m. The recitation of the rosary will begin at 2 p.m. and be followed by the funeral mass at 2:30 p.m. Burial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, at 11 a.m. at Consolata Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the children of Miracle-Foundation, a non-profit founded by his daughter, Caroline Boudreaux. The Miracle-Foundation, 1506 West 6 th St., Austin, Texas 78703, https://www.mira clefoundation.org