Frank Rockwell

FRANK ROCKWELL Frank Richard "Rocky" Rockwell, 88, of Las Vegas, passed away Friday, March 25, 2011. A Las Vegas native and lifelong resident, he was born Oct. 17, 1922, to pioneers James Wesley and Claris Lucille (Bishop) Rockwell. His mother's family arrived in Las Vegas in 1905 to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. As a very young boy, he sold newspapers for a nickle a piece on Fremont Street. He worked for the newspaper as head mailer as a teenager. He attended grade school at the historic Las Vegas Grammar School Branch No. 1 (later known as the Westside School) at Washington and D Streets and graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1940. He served in the United States Army during World Ward II. He moved with his new bride into a home in the Huntridge District in 1944, where they lived and raised their four children. They moved in with their daughter in 2006, where he lived until his death. After being discharged from the military, he worked for Bartlett Hardware. He began working for Nevada Power Company in 1949 and worked there until his retirement as a dispatcher in 1983. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many positions, most notably with the young men as Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America. He and June served two LDS missions at the Las Vegas Family History Center from 1984 through 1986. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and most family vacations were spent camping and fishing. He loved to cook and enjoyed hosting many family bar-b-ques and parties. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father and grandfather and loved being surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carolyn Schroeder; three granddaughters; and one great-granddaughter. He is survived by his wife, of 66 years, June Caroline (King) Rockwell; son, Wayne (Ladena), of Cedar City, Utah; daughters, Ruth (Dwight) Melvin and Libby (Gaylon) Jones; daughter-in-law, Marcia, all of Las Vegas; son-in-law, Charles Schroeder (Paula) of Long View, Texas; 18 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Betty Degler of Portland, Ore. Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas, NV 89101. Visitation again 10-11 a.m. Friday, April 1, with services following, both at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6100 Alta Drive. Internment will be at Bunkers Eden Vale Memorial Park, 1216 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas, NV 89101. The family suggests donations to Infinity Hospice, 7251 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89117.