Person Page 3,598

Esther (Etta) J. Rockwood was born on 15 August 1870 in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa. She died on 19 July 1924, at age 53, in Mansfield, Wright, Missouri.¹ She was buried in Waucoma Cemetery, Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.

Source: Oelwein Daily Register, July 29, 1924, pg. 4

Dr. D.M. Parker conducted the funeral services of Mrs. Ward at Waucoma Wednesday. Mrs. Ward died in Missouri and the remains were brought from there for burial. Her father, J.B. Rockwood, was buried at Waucoma about two weeks ago.

Effie Rockwood was born on 12 December 1872 in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.¹ She and Herbert Hooker Belding were married on 27 June 1895 in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.² She died on 5 February 1939, at age 66, in Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota.¹ She was buried in Waucoma Cemetery, Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.¹

Emma May Rockwood was born on 29 June 1875 in Eden, Fayette, Iowa. She died on 4 December 1954, at age 79, in Springfield, Greene, Missouri. She was buried in Marionville IOOF Cemetery, Marionville, Lawrence, Missouri.¹

Charles Bitneau (C.b.) Rockwood was born on 3 August 1877 in Eden, Fayette, Iowa.¹ He and Jessie L. Shaw were married on 21 June 1904 in Fayette County, Iowa.² He died on 18 March 1939, at age 61, in Sapulpa, Creek, Oklahoma.¹ He was buried in South Heights Cemetery, Sapulpa, Creek, Oklahoma.¹

Herbert Hooker Belding was born on 28 May 1867 in Caledonia, Houston, Minnesota.¹ He and Effie Rockwood were married on 27 June 1895 in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.² He died on 11 December 1952, at age 85, in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.¹ He was buried in Waucoma Cemetery, Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.¹

Herbert Hooker Belding was a Dentist.

Paul Herbert (Bert) Belding was born on 11 June 1896 in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.¹ He died on 3 June 1953, at age 56, in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.¹ He was buried in Waucoma Cemetery, Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.¹

Paul Herbert (Bert) Belding was a Dentist.

Leverne Albert Belding was born on 21 December 1898 in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa. He died on 21 October 1918, at age 19, in Samogneux, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. He was buried in Waucoma Cemetery, Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.

U.S. Military Forces, Military and Naval Forces. HD Quarters Co. 102 Inf, 26th Div., Sig. Bat. - WWI

Le Verne graduated with honors from public school in Waucoma in 1917. He was among the first six to enlist in World War I from Fayette County on 04/06/1917. He was placed in radio service in England. He later entered France and died from wounds received on October 21st, 1918. He was the first serviceman from Waucoma, Iowa to be killed in action in World War I. He was involved in the battles of St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne.

He was originally buried in France in the Glorieux Cemetery near Verdun (Oct. 22nd, 1918) and later disinterred and returned to the U.S. for burial in July 1921.

There is a World War I memorial plaque in the Waucoma cemetery that honors Le Verne and two other Waucoma soldiers who lost their lives in World War I.

The local American Legion in Waucoma is named in honor of these 3 soldiers - the Belding-Fox-Slagle post.

source: Fayette County Leader, August 4, 1921

LeVerne A. Belding was born in Waucoma, Iowa, December 21, 1898, and died of wounds received in battle, in France, October 21, 1918, aged 19 years, 10 months.
LeVerne was admired by his boy friends and schoolmates for his happy disposition and sunny outlook on life. He went through his school life when the days were all too short for the fun he put into them. He was a member of the class of 1917, and was awarded his diploma at the time of his enlistment, April 30, 1917. He spent six weeks in training at Ft. Des Moines, then was transferred to Camp Dodge, where he remained until September 28, when he was sent to Camp Cody at Deming, New Mexico. Here he remained until June 15, 1918, when the Sand Storm Division of which he was a member, went east, and embarked for service overseas.
Upon arrival in France he was placed in a radio school; when his work there was finished he was transferred to the 26th Division, and was upon the firing line for several weeks. Upon that fateful day when his company consisting of 128 men, went over the top at 5 o'clock in the morning, only 25 of them were alive at the close of the battle at 3 p.m. Only 3 returned without the scars of conflict, the others, dead or wounded, lay upon the field of battle. To the ambulance carriers who were gathering the wounded for the hospital he said, "Never mind me, go on, attend to the others who have to finish the work so many other lives are depending upon."
Attendance at the funeral Sunday is estimated at from 1,200 or 1,500 to as high as 3,000.

Leland James (Butch) Belding was born on 19 October 1901 in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa. He and Gladys Gale Hungerford were married on 11 June 1927 in Iowa City, Iowa.¹ He and Gladys Gale Hungerford were divorced before 3 April 1930.² He and Cosette Campbell were married before 1936.³ He died on 2 September 1957, at age 55, in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa. He was buried in Waucoma Cemetery, Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.

US Marine Corps- US Navy- 19 Jul 1927- 30 SEP 1939. Leland James (Butch) Belding was a Physician (Navy.) He was educated University of Iowa.⁴ As a medical officer, then Captain LJ Belding served in Jinotega, Matagalpa and Bluefields, Nicaragua for 3 1/2 years circa 1928. He served at the Great Lakes Naval Station training hospital circa 1930, and as a surgeon on the battleship Texas in 1934. He retired as a Lieutenant in the US Navy circa 1939.

Obituary -
Waucoma - (1957) - Funeral services were conducted at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon from Reed's Funeral home for Dr. Leland Belding, 57, who apparently died in his sleep early Wednesday morning. Body was discovered by his son, Frank, who had been out for the evening. Immediate cause of death was not disclosed, but Dr. Belding had not been in good health for some time.
Ray Kruger, student pastor of the Federated church, officiated, and interment was in Waucoma cemetery with George Stribley, Jack McKay, Dewey Chizek, John Farley, V.C. Willis and Henry Otters as pallbearers.
Dr. Belding was the son of Dr. H.H. and Effie Rockwood Belding. After graduation from medical college, he served as a navy doctor for several years. He came back to Waucoma and practiced his profession with Dr. Tony Smith, later dissolving that partnership. About seven years ago he retired due to failing health.
Survivors are a daughter, Becky, Mrs. Tom Adolph; two sons, Leland jr., in service, and Frank, at home; a sister, Mrs. Arlene Clark, Estherville, and several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers, Frank*** and Bert.

***(note - incorrect brother listed in article, Frank should be LeVerne, who preceded him in death.)

Arlene Frances Belding was born on 30 September 1903 in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.¹ She and James Parker Clark were married on 12 July 1930 in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.² She and James Parker Clark were divorced on 10 April 1986 in Citrus County, Florida. She died on 7 January 1981, at age 77, in Cedar Rapids, Linn, Iowa.¹ She was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Estherville, Emmet, Iowa.¹

Arlene Frances Belding was educated University of Iowa. Arlene graduated from the University of Iowa in 1924. She was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Order of the Eastern Star, Chi Omega Sorority and the Mayflower Order of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
At the time of her death, she was survived by three sons, one daughter and ten grandchildren.

Arlene Clark, 77, of 5040 Broadview Drive SE, died Thursday at a Cedar Rapids hosital.

Born Sept. 30, 1903, at Waucoma, she graduated from the University of Iowa in 1924. Mrs. Clark moved to Cedar Rapids from Estherville 14 year ago.

She was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, the Order of Eastern Star, Chi Omega sorority and Mayflower chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Survivors include three sons, Dr. Charles B. Clark, Fair Oaks, Calif.; James P. Clark and David Clark, both of Estherville; one daughter, Nancy Humphreys, Cedar Rapids; and 10 grandchildren.

Services : 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Grace Epsicopal Church, Estherville. Burial: Oak Hill Cemetery, Estherville. A memorial service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Michael's Church, Cedar Rapids.

Ashton Hollister House was born on 28 February 1874 in Waucoma, Fayette, Iowa.¹ He died on 26 July 1948, at age 74, in Springfield, Greene, Missouri.¹ He was buried in Marionville IOOF Cemetery, Marionville, Lawrence, Missouri.¹

Kathryne (Kate) M. House was born in December 1898 in Iowa.¹ She and Loda C. Adcock were married on 22 May 1918 in Lawrence, Missouri.²

Jessie L. Shaw was born on 2 May 1878 in Iowa City, Wright, Iowa.¹ She and Charles Bitneau (C.b.) Rockwood were married on 21 June 1904 in Fayette County, Iowa.² She died on 20 January 1968, at age 89, in Neenah, Winnebago, Wisconsin.¹ She was buried in South Heights Cemetery, Sapulpa, Creek, Oklahoma.¹

Doris Rockwood was born on 14 July 1908 in Iowa. She died in February 1980, at age 71, in Bethany, Oklahoma, Oklahoma.

Joe Shaw Rockwood was born on 31 December 1908 in Bristow, Creek, Oklahoma.¹ He died on 12 October 1971, at age 62, in Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland. He was buried Cremated.

U.S. Army- WWII- 24 Aug 1942.² Joe Shaw Rockwood was an Attorney- US Public Health Education & Welfare.³ Died from Brain Damage due to prolonged Hypoglycemic Coma in Switzerland while traveling overseas.

Ralph C. Rockwood was born on 2 April 1912 in Sapulpa, Creek, Oklahoma.¹ He died on 2 March 1967, at age 54, in Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii.¹ He was buried in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Section U, Site 1217), Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii.¹

Ralph C. Rockwood was educated University of Oklahoma-Mechanical Engineering. Brigadier General U.S. Air Force.² BRIGADIER GENERAL RALPH C. ROCKWOOD

Retired Feb. 25, 1966. Died March 1, 1967.

Ralph C. Rockwood was born in Sapulpa, Okla., in 1912. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma (Norman) in 1933 with a degree in mechanical engineering and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery Reserve.

General Rockwood entered the Air Force in July 1933, and graduated from Air Force Flying School, Kelly Field, Texas, in June 1934. He served as a fighter and light bombardment pilot at Barksdale Field, La., and Wheeler Field, Hawaii from the summer of 1934 to 1938. From 1938 through 1947, General Rockwood was assigned to Flying Training Command in various capacities, from flying instructor to commanding officer. He was in such programs as glider, preflight, primary flying, basic flying, bombardier-navigator, advanced flying and B-24 transition.

From November 1947 to June 1949, General Rockwood served in the Marianas as chief of staff, Mariana Air Materiel Area. In June 1949, he became chief of staff, 19th Bombardment Wing.

He served in Headquarters U.S. Air Force from August 1950 to April 1951 as chief, Services Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Materiel and from May 1951 to August 1953 as chief, Aircraft and Armament Division.

General Rockwdod was a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., from August 1953 to June 1954. Upon completion of school, he was assigned to Headquarters Air Materiel Command in the Directorate of Supply as chief, Programs and Requirements Division. He attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University in 1957 and in May 1958 was named deputy director/Supply Requirements.

He became commander, Southern Air Materiel Area, Pacific, Clark Air Force Base, Philippines June 7, 1958.

On March 26, 1960, General Rockwood was assigned to Headquarters Air Materiel Command as deputy director of supply. On June 17, 1963, General Rockwood was assigned as director of supply, Headquarters, AFLC, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. On Sept. 15, 1964, the general became commander, San Bernardino Air Materiel Area, Norton Air Force Base, Calif.

General Rockwood is a rated command pilot.

Included among his awards are Legion of Merit, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Victory Medal World War II, National Defense Service Medal and Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters.

Rebecca (Becky) Lou Rockwood was born on 15 December 1921 in Sapulpa, Creek, Oklahoma.^1,2 She and Edward Thomas Hill were married on 3 May 1944.³ She died on 3 May 2011, at age 89, in Neenah, Winnebago, Wisconsin.^1,2 She was buried in Saint Johns Cemetery, Fox Crossing, Winnebago, Wisconsin.¹

Rebecca (Becky) Lou Rockwood was educated University of Oklahoma.³ Rebecca L. “Becky” Hill, of Neenah, age 89, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. She was born December 15, 1921 in Sapulpa, OK, daughter of the late Charles and Jessie (Shaw) Rockwood. Becky graduated from the University of Oklahoma during WWII with a degree in Spanish and Portugese. She moved to San Diego during the war and worked for Grumman Aircraft. While there she met Edward Hill at a USO dance and they were married on May 3, 1944. Following the war they moved to Wisconsin.

Becky taught Kindergarten at St. Mary’s School in Menasha and Spanish at Lakeview Elementary School in Neenah. She was then employed with Banta Corp. from 1965-1988 as a proofreader. Becky volunteered with children of migrant workers. Through reading she pursued her interests in world history and the origin and development of human culture. In connection with these interests she travelled to Egypt, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and England. Becky was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Neenah.

Survivors include three sons: Thomas Hill, Los Angeles, Ted (Dana) Hill, Blue Mounds, WI, Paul Hill, Neenah; two grandchildren: Emmy Hill and Andrew Hill; three sisters-in-law: Jean (Bob) Klapper, Fremont, Aurelia “Ory” Piette, and Mary Hill, Appleton; and numerous other relatives. She was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at the First Presbyterian Church, 200 Church St., Neenah, with the Rev. Richard J. Moore officiating. The visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service. Interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery in Menasha.

Modest Mae Hensley was born on 21 August 1919 in Searcy County, Arkansas. She died on 5 September 1978, at age 59, in Colorado. She was buried in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (U1217), Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Born 21 Aug 1919 in Hensley Bend, Searcy, Arkansas

Parents: Love and Mary Susan Arnold Hensley

Husband: Brig. Geneal Ralph C Rockwood (Air Force.)