John H. Rothrock, 95, of Rockport, passed away on Saturday, August 15, 2020.
He was born April 27, 1925, in Depauw, to the late Earl and Lola Rothrock.
John was proud of his military service during WWII. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1946 and traveled through the Panama Canal, to the Marshall Islands, Guam, Philippine Islands and Saipan. He had tours on the USS LST 560 and USS Dale DD 353. After his military service, John received his Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Education Degree from Indiana University.
John and his first wife, Marilyn (Guest) Rothrock, wed on June 16, 1956. They were married for 43 years and had three children, Karen, Sharon and Karla. John taught business education and drivers education in the South Spencer School Corporation for 40 years. His first teaching position was at Rockport High School and then South Spencer High School after consolidation. There, he served as the Business Department Chair until retirement in May of 1993.
He was a member of Thompson Chapel United Methodist Church in Depauw, and later attended Rockport First United Methodist Church and Grandview United Methodist Church. John taught Sunday School well into his early nineties and held several positions in the church, including treasurer and lay leader to the Methodist Conference. He enjoyed farming, gardening and caring for his cattle. He also enjoyed watching college basketball and was an avid Indiana University basketball fan.
John is survived by his daughters, Karen Bunch and her husband, Dwayne, of Rockport, Sharon Gieselmann and her husband, Frank, of Utica, KY and Karla Bengert and her husband, Patrick, of Haubstadt; grandchildren, Jennifer Newton and her husband, Travis, Jamie Goodwin and her husband, Jason, Matthew Bunch, Nick Bengert and Elaine Bengert; five great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Carolyn Mowen; and step-children, Jonathan Connor, Christopher Connor and Carol Connor-Garreau.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marilyn (Guest) Rothrock; second wife, Frances (Connor) Rothrock; siblings, Elva, Melvin, Emery, Sherman and Helen Ruth; and nephew, Lloyd.
Services for John H. Rothrock will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 19, at Boultinghouse Funeral Home in Rockport. Burial is in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Rockport. Military honors will be provided by the Rockport American Legion Post 254.
Visitation is from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, and from 9 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations be made to the South Spencer Scholarship Foundation, South Spencer High School, 1142 N. Orchard Rd. Rockport, IN 47635 or Thompson Chapel United Methodist Church, 5387 Rothrock Mill Road NW, Depauw, IN 47715.
Friends unable to attend may send a condolence to the family at www.BoultinghouseFuneralHome.com.
