Col James Carson Rock, born 2 October 1943 to Robert Rock and Geraldine Carson Rock in Sayre, PA, left his earthly body 19 December 2021. He was at home in San Antonio with his devoted wife, Jane, son Tumu, and daughter-in-law Kirsty Rock.
Col Rock graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University with a BS in Electronic Engineering and earned both a Masters and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Ohio State University.
Dr Rock was an Industrial Hygienist for more than 40 years, 27 of which were through his United States Air Force (USAF) career where he earned the rank of Colonel. He served as consulting Industrial Hygienist to the USAF Surgeon General and as Commander of the worldwide USAF Occupational and Environmental Health Laboratory (USAF OEHL). He presented invited lectures on Industrial Hygiene and Safety Engineering topics in Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Taiwan and the United States. For 12 years, he led thesis research and taught industrial hygiene and safety engineering to upper division undergraduate and graduate students at the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University (TAMU), where he was known as Professor Rock. He retired from the USAF in 1992 and from TAMU in 2004, but continued in private practice into 2021.
Professional accomplishments aside, friends and family appreciated his generous heart, thoughtful advice, his quick wit, and his deep devotion to his Lord and his family. In his spare time, he loved to travel via cruise ship, private airplane, and sailboat. After his first wife, Liz, died in 2016, he continued to serve in Kairos and Jubilee prison ministry, taught himself to cook and enjoyed hosting friends and neighbors for dinner parties. He was active in his church and community.
In March 2021, he was delighted to marry his 2nd wife, Mrs Jane Radigan of Helotes, TX, with whom he enjoyed traveling, and whom he loved to find ways to impress. He often bragged that they had never had a fight. He was disappointed, even apologetic, that he could not spend more time with her before he was called Home.
Professor Rock was preceded in death by his parents Bob and Gerry Rock, brother John Rock, Sister Margaret Oberkofler, and wife of 48 years, Elizabeth L Rock.
He is survived by wife Jane Radigan; son Tumu Rock and his wife Kirsty of Vermont; daughter Peta Dudley, her husband Bryan, and their four children Amanda, Jordan, Nathan, and Dara of Houston; brother Ken Rock and his wife Margie of Wisconsin, and nephews Rob and Doug Rock; brother-in-law Hermann Oberkofler of San Antonio and niece Monica Oberkofler Gorman, and great-grandson Cole, on whom he doted, as well as numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1 pm January 19 at Bryan First United Methodist Church in Bryan, TX. The service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
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