Claude H. Rock, Jr., 97, (June 19, 1923-June 21, 2020) passed from this life on June 21, 2020. Claude was born in San Antonio, TX, and was the youngest of the four children of Claude H. Rock, Sr., and Anna Witherspoon Rock.

When WWII started, Claude was a student at Texas A&M. His class quit school and most went to Officer Candidate School (OCS), to go in the Army as officers. Claude knew his eyesight was not good enough to go to OCS. Instead, he enlisted as an infantryman. He served in the U.S. Army as a cannoneer/ammunition handler on a 90-mm cannon. This was in the European Theater under Gen. George S. Patton. He was on the front lines for six months. For his service Claude was awarded three Bronze Stars.

After the war, Claude married Mary Elizabeth Temple. They were married for 64 years when she died in 2012. After they married, he finished his degree at Texas A&M and began a 35-year career, teaching vocational agriculture in Eula, TX, 20 miles southeast of Abilene. Claude was a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and long-time member of the Eula Baptist Church.

For eight years, Claude had been a resident at Chisholm House in Abilene, TX. The caregivers there are the best in the state, and the family are very appreciative of the loving care they gave our father.

Claude is survived by his five children and their spouses, Susan Rock Gower (Dan), Frances Manley (Michael), Anita Larrick (Jim), Thomas Rock (Veda), and Robert Rock (Pam), his sister-in-law, Leslie Toland, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He will be buried in the Eula Community Cemetery in a private service for the family. A public memorial service will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the charity of your choice.