Fay Rockwell

Published 12:00 am Sunday, May 10, 2009

Fay A. Rockwell, 86
Was milk inspector in Detroit

Fay Albert Rockwell died on Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, in Palm Desert Calif., when his motorhome crashed head-on into a group of trees due to brake failure.
 Fay was born in Brownsdale, Minn. to Paul H. and Gertrude Merna Dibble Rockwell on Sept. 27, 1922. He was the oldest of four brothers and one sister. He grew up on his parents’ farm southeast of Brownsdale until he joined the U.S. Navy on Dec. 15, 1942. He served 3 1/2 years in World War II and received an honorable discharge as Yeoman 3rd class on April 6, 1946. His duty was mostly in the South Pacific area. After discharge from the Navy, he was employed by Hormel Foods in Austin as a butcher for a year.
Fay attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and graduated from Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis. Later he attended and graduated from the Pure Pak Institute and was employed as a milk inspector in Detroit for the State of Michigan, where he worked for 12 years.
In September 1959 Fay met his sweetheart, Della Jessee Boehler, and they were married on March 5, 1960 in Detroit. In 1969, Fay and Della moved to San Diego, where he worked at National Steel Shipyards and later became a real estate salesman for 25 years. In 1978, he and Della opened and operated Century 21 Rockwell Realtors until 1990.
Fay also enjoyed his houseboat on both Lake Erie and San Diego Bay, and for the past 20 years, he and Della traveled continuously in the United States and Canada in their Airstream motorhome. Fay was a longtime member of St. Peters by the Sea Lutheran Church on Point Loma, Calif. and the Elks Club in El Cajon, Calif. Fay was a very loving and attentive husband and stepfather.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Della; stepson, Edward (Diane) Boehler, Ocean Beach Calif.; four brothers, Paul (Wanda) Rockwell, Westerville Ohio, Ross (Lois) Rockwell, Austin, Guy (Marcella) Rockwell and Harry Rockwell, all of Brownsdale,.
He is preceded in death by his only sister, Norrine Rockwell Monsen; brother-in-law, Harold Monsen; and Fay’s parents.
 Fay was a true gentleman and he will be missed by all who knew him.
 Funeral services will be held at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin at 2 p.m. on May 16, 2009. A reception honoring his memory will follow at 3 p.m. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in rural Brownsdale with Military Funeral Honors by American Legion Post 91 and VFW Post 1216.

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