Rev. Donald Rock, 81, died Aug. 11, 2018, at Willow Ridge – Betty House, in Bluffton. Don was born Oct. 10, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Clayton L. and Dorothy (Vollman) Rock. On June 7, 1958, he married Shirley (Derringer) Rock and she survives.
Donald graduated from Camp Hill High School in Pennsylvania in 1955, Heidelberg College in 1959, and Methodist Theological Seminary in 1994.
He served in the U.S. Army, Fort Knox, Kentucky, in Armor Training Headquarters. He was a member of the American Legion Post 382 – Bluffton, serving as Chaplain.
For many years, he was a lay minister of the United Church of Christ serving eight congregations prior to ordination. He was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Bluffton.
After ordination at St. Paul’s UCC, Bellevue, Ohio, he served as pastor-teacher at St. Paul’s UCC, Woodsfield, Ohio. Later he served as pastor and teacher of Faith UCC, Altoona, Pennsylvania, a merger of three congregations. He was known as “Pastor Don”.
Following retirement in 2000, he and Shirley moved to Bluffton where he served as Interim Minister at St. John’s UCC in Bluffton, the Immanuel UCC in Kettlersville, Gomer UCC in Gomer and Buckland UCC in Buckland. He was active in the greater church on teams and committees of the United Church of Christ, Northwest Ohio Association, the Ohio Conference, Eastern Ohio Association, Penn-West Conference and Juniata Association.
Having been a member of Heidelberg Concert Choir, where he met Shirley, he continued his love of music in church choirs and Monroe Singers – a community choir in Woodsfield. He and Shirley also sang duets as special music.
He was a model railroader, wood worker, loved to travel to see family and also travel with grandchildren. He collected crosses, shepherds and sheep.
Survivors also include five children, David Rock of Knoxville, Tennessee, Glenn (Karen) Rock of San Jose, California, Carol (Stephen) Shanaman of Bellevue, Ohio, Susan (Kurt) Awender of Howell, Michigan, Dr. Steven (Aditi) Rock of Dubuque, Iowa, and 13 grandchildren, Rachel, Adam, Vanessa, Ben and Nathan Shanaman, Aidan, Pierce and Madison Rock, Gretchen, Annika and Heidi Awender and Silanshu and Preesha Rock.
Donald was preceded in death by his sister Janet in 2017.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 16, at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Bluffton. Rev. Dan Busch, association minister officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 – 8 p.m. at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s United Church of Christ or American Legion Post #382.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
