William Leighton Rock

ROCK, William Leighton, died at Manor Care Imperial in Richmond, Va. on July 4, 2010, after a prolonged illness. Bill was born on October 22, 1922 in Troutville, Va., the second of seven children, to Herman Obenshain Rock and Gladys Leighton Rock. In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by two brothers and their wives, Herman O. Rock Jr and wife, Mamie Rock and Leonard J. Rock and wife, Lova Rock; and by his brother, Harold D. Rock. He is survived by his wife, Marylouise Tompkins Rock, whom he married on September 27, 1947; by their two sons, Dr. William Leighton Rock Jr. and wife, Katherine Costin Rock, of Glen Allen, Va. and Dr. David Tompkins Rock and his wife, Tiffany Groover Rock, of Peachtree City, Ga; and by their daughter, The Rev. Dr. Nancy Rock Poti and her husband, James Vincent Poti, of Midlothian, Va.. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, William Leighton "Trip" Rock III and wife, Jessica Arin Rock, Samuel Shaw Rock, Christopher Andrew Rock and Timothy Patrick Rock, who are the sons of Bill Jr. and Kathy Rock; James Hunter Rock, Hanna Leighton Rock and Haley Grace Rock, who are the children of Dave and Tiffany Rock; and Emily Elizabeth Eldridge and husband, Stephen Daniel Eldridge, Matthew David Poti and wife, Brittany Angeline Poti and Jennifer Marie Poti, who are the children of Nancy and Jim Poti. In addition, he is survived by three great-granddaughters, Rebecca Ann-Katherine Rock, Freedom Leigh Rock and Abigail Marie Eldridge; by one great-grandson, Jonah David Rock; and by one stepgreat-grandson, Caleb Samuel Easter. Also surviving are two brothers and their wives, Robert M. Rock and wife, Sarah Rock, of Nashville, Tenn. and Richard W. Rock and wife, Janet Rock, of Suffolk, Va.; a sister, Kathryn Rock Weddle and husband, Dewie Weddle, of Troutville, Va.; and two sisters-in-law, Margaret Rock of Troutville, Va. and Sarah Tompkins Riganti and husband, Rocco Riganti, of Salem Va.

Bill and "Marylou" joined First Baptist Church, Richmond on October 17, 1954 and became members of the Gold Band Class. In 1962, Bill began teaching Sunday school in the fourth grade department and continued teaching there for over 40 years, often teaching the second generation. In 2005, he was recognized as An Outstanding Christian Educator by The Center for Congregational Ministry, now known as The Resource Center. He served as a deacon and was named a Deacon Emeritus. He became Church Treasurer in 1985, retiring in October 2005. He also served on numerous committees and boards, including the Finance, Personnel, Stewardship, Audit and Budget Committees and The Board of Directors of The First Baptist Church Endowment Fund.

Bill was a military veteran, having served in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was a Certified Public Accountant, retiring in 1985 from Coopers & Lybrand, now know as PrincewaterhouseCoopers He was a member and past president of the following professional organizations: The Virginia Association of Professions, Richmond Chapter of The Virginia Society of CPAs and the National Association of Accountants, Richmond, now knows as the Institute of Management Accountants. He also served as an officer of The Virginia Society of CPAs and The National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives and was a (ROCK Continued) member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Bill was a Lifetime Member of the Richmond Host Lions Club. He was a charter member of The Salisbury Country Club.

The family will gather at Woody Funeral Home located at 1771 North Parham Road on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in order to share their joys and sorrows with one another and their friends. A service of Witness to the Resurrection and A Celebration of Bill's Life will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Monument and Boulevard. Memorials may be made to the Television Ministry of First Baptist Church, 2709 Monument Avenue, Richmond, Va. 23220.