Joseph Ernst Rockwell of Oak Circle, Newville, PA, died on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at the age of 95.
Born August 25, 1929 in Mercersburg, PA, he was a son of the late Charles E. Rockwell and Ora (Ernst) Rockwell.
Mr. Rockwell graduated from Mercersburg High School in 1947, received his B.A. Degree from Findlay College in Ohio, and his Master’s in curriculum and supervision from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York.
After 33 years of working for the Board of Education of Washington County, MD., Mr. Rockwell retired in July 1983. As a teacher, he taught at Funkstown and Fountaindale Elementary Schools. As a teaching principal, he taught at Greensburg and Indian Springs.
After teaching third and fourth grade mathematics on closed-circuit television for five years, he was appointed as supervision of nine elementary schools, a position he held for 18 years until retirement. He helped open Potomac Heights School, an open-space concept school in 1972.
Mr. Rockwell helped establish the last of the University of Maryland’s Teacher Education Centers, which was in Washinton County. He later worked as an Adjunct Professor for Shippensburg University supervising student teachers. During his two-years of service with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, Joseph attended the Chaplain’s Assistant School at New Rochele, New York and became a Chaplain’s Assistant at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky.
While a resident of Mercersburg, Mr. Rockwell served on Borough Council, the Historical Review Board, the Beautification Committee, and the Fendrick Library Board. He was a member of the Mercersburg Area Community Chorus for 25 years and the choir director at St. John’s Lutheran Church for 18 years. As an active member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, he served in a number of capacities.
As a resident of Green Ridge Village, Newville, PA since 2004, he contributed not only to the retirement community, but also to the Newville Community. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Big Spring Senior Center, a member of the West Pennsboro Planning Commission and West Pennsboro auditor. Mr. Rockwell was an active member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Newville, PA. There he sang in the choir and served as substitute organist.
Mr. Rockwell enjoyed gardening, music, traveling and was proud of his family.
Mr. Rockwell was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joanna H. Rockwell.
He is survived by a daughter, Julia Lynn (Alan) Hair of Hummelstown, PA and a son, Charles Hamilton (Beth) Rockwell of Boonsboro, MD, and two grandchildren, Rebecca Elizabeth Crawshaw (Ben) and Jacob Charles Rockwell.
Visitation will be held on Monday, February 24 at 10 a.m. with a memorial service at 11 a.m. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 51 West Main St, Newville, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Newville,PA or Mercersburg Area Community Chorus.
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