| Graduation Year | Class of 1972 |
| Date of Passing | Feb 01, 2017 |
| About | Rocky Everett Wrather 6/16/1954-2/1/2017 Rocky Everett Wrather, age 62, passed away after a sudden illness early on February 1, 2017 in Bremerton, Washington. He had been residing in Poulsbo, Washington for the past few years. He was a two time survivor of cancer. Rocky, or as many knew him as "The Roc", was born in Sacramento, California on June 16, 1954, grew up in Folsom and graduated from Folsom High School in 1972. He joined the U.S. Navy shortly thereafter. Rocky was a Vietnam Veteran after serving onboard the USS ORISKANY (CVA 34) during the war, and his naval service took him all over the world. His job in the Navy was as an Aviation Structural Mechanic (Hydraulics). The most prevalent of his 20 years of continuous Naval service was with Antarctic Development Squadron SIX (VXE-6). VXE-6 was in logistical support of the National Science Foundation. His 7 deployments to McMurdo Station, Antarctica and detachment assignments to Christchurch, New Zealand which was stopping point for those headed for the ice were the highlights as a career sailor. "The Roc" loved to tell people he had been around the world 10 times twice - not by plane or boat and then he would ask them "How did I do it?" After a "waiting time" he said "I walked around the South Pole Marker!" Rocky retired from the U.S. Navy in 1992 after 20 years of continuous active and very honorable Naval service as an Aviation Structural Mechanic (Hydraulics) First Class Petty Officer (AMH1). Rocky is the Holder of the Royale Orders of Shellback, Old Antarctic Explorer, Order of DeMolay, and Knight of Templar Priory. Rocky was an avid John Wayne fan and watched every movie that he ever made over and over again. He loved "one tank trips" around Washington State and would be the first one to help a friend in need. For all of the lives that our great friend touched, all the planes he fixed, all the shipmates of "The Roc", he created a bond that was unimaginable between friends & family. "The Roc"... Volumes will be told, and told again of relationships and of "Sea Stories". Rocky Wrather has saved us all at one time or another. He was a VXE-6 brother and damn good friend. "Fair Winds and Following Seas Shipmate!" (from good friend, Ray Schneckloth) Rocky was predeceased by his father Everett ("Tex") Wrather and is survived by the love of his life, fiancé' Susan Hubbard- Gibbs, mother Beulah Wrather Lane, children Brandon Wrather (Salim) and Kristen Hinton and grandchildren Kylie, Maura, Corbin, Logan, Jace & Kaleb. Published in Gold Country Media Newspapers on July 13, 2017 |
