JOHN LOREN ROCKHILL

John Loren Rockhill, age 50, died Tuesday night, May 15th after a long, brave battle with cancer. John was born in Birmingham, Alabama on June 25, 1956 and moved to Panama City just before his third birthday. He attended Lynn Haven Elementary, Mowat Jr. High, Bay High School and Gulf Coast Community College. John spent 9 ½ years in the nuclear field of the United States Navy, then 15 years as a Merchant Seaman. John held a Chief Engineer's license and worked for Osprey Management when his illness struck. He never gave up his love of travel and of the high seas, but was always eager to return to the loving arms of his wife of 29 years, Marsha Faircloth Rockhill, his daughter, Brienn Rockhill, and his son, Joshua Rockhill. John is also survived by his mother and father, Sue and Milton Rockhill, his sister, Judy Rockhill Figgins and her daughter, Angela Haskins of Mesa, Arizona, one aunt, Carol Whitehead of Everitt, Washington and her son, Russ Golden, of Conn. Other survivors include parents in law Jim and Ferol Faircloth of Wewahitchka, FL, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sharon and Dave Nehring and daughter, Laura of Tifton, GA, sister-in-law, Pam Jenkins and children, Richard and Sabrina Jenkins, of Panama City. John has an extended family of a host of cousins, great aunts and uncles, second cousins and many dear, close friends.
John was a Christian, a member of the Men's Auxiliary of VFW Post 8205 where he served as Chaplain. He was also a life member of Am Vets Post 2298.
John's loving heart, gentle spirit, his humor, wit and presence will be missed by all. Memorial services will be held Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the Forest Park United Methodist Church with Dr. John Friedman, Rev. Tom Tillery, Bishop Richard Jenkins Sr., and Bishop Richard Jenkins Jr. officiating. The family would like to thank Dr. Malamud and his staff for their excellent care. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gulf Coast Community College Foundation in memory of John Rockhill.

Wilson Funeral Home