Francis (Frank) Roy Rock, 87, of Palmdale, California, previously of Pittsburg, Kansas, passed into the arms of our Lord on March 21, 2026, surrounded by family members and compassionate caregivers at the Forever Love Home Care, Inc., in Lancaster, California.
Roy was born on May 17, 1938, in Baltimore, Maryland, to John Edward Roch Sr and Catherine Elizabeth Kelly. As a child, he lived in Essex, MD, near the Back River, where he would go crabbing with his friends, sharing the spoils with nearby neighbors and family. Roy joined the Air Force at the young age of 17, retiring after serving his country for 23 1/2 years. He achieved the rank of Master Sergeant, filling positions from firefighter to Deputy Fire Chief during his military career. Assignments took him to Kansas, Greenland, Texas, Okinawa, Washington DC, Vietnam, Missouri, Germany, and New Mexico. He received numerous medals during his military career. Among these is the Bronze Star awarded for his response to an aircraft crash involving live munitions at Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam. Several of his fellow firefighters were killed or injured. He never forgot this tragedy and loss of his firefighter brothers who gave the greatest sacrifice that day. As a result, he took every opportunity to remember them at the Vietnam Wall or traveling replica.
Upon returning from Germany, he was assigned to Cannon AFB, where the firefighter assigned to show him around introduced him as “Frank”. Roy didn’t want to embarrass him, so he chose not to say anything.
After retiring from his last military assignment as Deputy Fire Chief at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, he traveled to California, joining his old friend, Willie Bell, at Edwards Air Force Base. Roy served Edwards as a civilian Assistant Fire Chief for the next 15 years.
Roy was a devout Catholic and a lifetime member of the VFW and the American Legion. Roy enjoyed fishing and hunting, and often kept his family fed in leaner times through these hobbies. He also enjoyed bowling, cards, and dominoes. He loved the laughs of friends and family when he sang songs such as The Tattooed Lady, Roberta Roberta, Fever, There Is Nothing Like a Dame, and I Can’t Give You Anything but Love. He was known to have sung both male and female roles of the song, Figaro wearing a “cute” wig or hat, depending on the part, signing off with a Looney Tunes copy of “That’s all, Folks!” He loved making his audiences laugh. And who among firefighters at Edwards could forget being awakened in the morning to I’m Too Sexy for My Shirt.
Roy and his “Beautiful Bride,” Alberta Louise Tippie, were married May 16, 1959, at Forbes Air Force Base Chapel, Topeka, Kansas.
Roy is survived by his wife, Alberta, and their children, Rhonda Rock, Earnest (Kristine) Rock, Elizabeth (Ray) Sadler, Wendy (Michael) Jackson, and David (Jennifer) Rock, grandchildren, Elyssa (Stephen) Winters, Michael (Melissa) Jackson Jr, Kayla Rock, Jeremy (Bekah) Rock, Ashlynn Rock, Vanessa (Patrick) Burch, Anthony Andrade, Eliana Andrade. great-grandchildren, Lincoln, Robyn, Finn, Miles, Haven, Ashton, Amelia, siblings: Charles Rock, Margaret Rock. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by his parents and siblings, John (Nancy) Rock Jr, Bernard Rock, Catherine (Harry) Neenan, Robert (Dorothy) Rock, Dorothy Rock, and William Rock. Granddaughter, Amanda Jackson, and predeceased by other nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank Forever Love Home Care, Inc., Anthem Hospice, Golden Road Hospice, Kathleen Samano, and Lynda Mills for providing loving care for Roy during his final days. We are also grateful for visits, calls, and prayers from our friends and family.
Burial will take place at:
10 am,
Fort Scott National Cemetery
900 East National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Phone: 913-212-4612
Request donations be made to your favorite charity in place of flowers.