William Henry Rockwell

William Henry Rockwell Jan. 20, 1921 - Nov. 30, 2007 William Henry Rockwell, 86, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2007 at 10 p.m. from complications of prostate cancer at the Valley View Retirement Community in Boise, Idaho. He was born Jan. 20, 1921 in Bellevue, Idaho to his parents Vernie Lloyd Rockwell (b. Indian Territory; Mounds, Okla.) and Mildred Aleen Gardner (b. Eureka, Utah). William had two sisters, Fern and Ruth and a younger brother, Clyde Thomas. Sadly, William was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, step-daughter (Nicole Stanfield-Winn) and second wife (June Deal). As a youth, William attended The Hailey Elementary School and Hailey High School (1935-1939) where he was an honor student and a leader in his class. William's high school academic achievements earned him a $100 scholarship from Sears-Roebuck for the Univ. of Idaho College of Agriculture; only 25 were awarded in Idaho. After high school graduation William worked as a ranch hand in Stanley, Idaho before taking a job with the West Coast Power Company of Hailey, Idaho. On Jan. 10, 1942 William enlisted into the U.S. Navy in Salt Lake City, Utah. By the completion of his tour of duty, he earned the rank of Boatswain's Mate Second Class and received an honorable discharge at Bremerton, Wash. on Jan. 12, 1946. After returning home from military service, William learned that Idaho Power bought West Coast Power. William then joined Idaho Power as an apprentice lineman and worked his way up the ranks. In 1947 he was promoted to lineman. He continued to move upward in responsibility to working foreman, line-working foreman, crew foreman and in 1966 to construction foreman with the specialized crews responsible for building virtually all of Idaho Power's major energy carriers. In 1968, William received his highest promotion to Superintendent of Line Construction. William's career encompasses four years in the U.S. Navy during W.W. II, three years with the West Coast Power Company and 43 1/2 years with the Idaho Power Company before retiring in 1983. William is survived by his ex-wife, Olivia Gabina (Moline) Troutner of Boise; children from his first marriage: twin sons William Patrick (wife Andrea) of Boise and Michael David (wife Claudette) of Burbank, Calif.; four grandchildren, Darcy Rockwell-Lofing, Philip Rockwell, Shawntel Rockwell-Grantham, and Rochelle Rockwell; four great-grandchildren, Dyllon and Adam Lofing, Hailey Grantham and Ivan Rockwell. Viewing and services will be held Wednesday Dec. 5, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. at the Cloverdale Funeral Home, 1200 N. Cloverdale Rd, Boise, ID, (208)375-2212. Graveside services with full military honors and interment at the Terrace Lawn Memorial Gardens. A reception will be held at the Cloverdale Funeral Home reception center.