Donald L. LaRock, 80, of South Main Street, Waterbury, passed away
at Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin on Sunday, December 21, 2008. Born
in Forest Dale on September 15, 1928, Don was the son of the late Dewey
and Agnes (Dimick) LaRock. On January 16, 1960, he married the former
Patricia Donahue in Waterbury. Patricia passed away on August 12, 2005.
Don attended schools in Forest Dale and was a 1948 graduate of Brandon
High School. A member of the Vermont Army National Guard, Don was
activated during the Korean War, serving from 1949 until his discharge
in 1951.
Don worked for the F.A. Tucker Co. for 10 years setting utility poles
before being employed by Pike Industries as an equipment operator,
retiring in 1996 after 36 years of service. Don continued with Pike on
a part-time basis until 2002. During the winter months Don worked for
the Sugarbush Ski Area as a trail groomer for many years.
A 32-year member of the Waterbury Village Fire Department, Don served
in all of the department offices including fire chief for 10 years. In
honor of his dedicated service the Fire Tower Truck was named "Donald
L. LaRock Tower Company" by the department. His other memberships
included the Vermont Fire Chiefs Association, the Waterbury Area Senior
Citizens, Grace Episcopal Church in Forest Dale, the Brandon High
School Alumni Association and he was a member for over 50 years of the
Harry N. Cutting American Legion Post 59 of Waterbury.
Donald loved his family very much and took great pleasure in the time
spent with his grandsons, who meant the world to him. Once a
firefighter, always a firefighter and even though Don had retired from
the department due to declining health, his interest and soul remained
intertwined with the fire fighting community.
Don is survived by his son, Michael D. LaRock and his wife Diane of
Waterbury; his four grandsons, Matthew LaRock, Stephen LaRock,
Christopher LaRock and Tyler LaRock; his sister, Thelma LaCross of
Brownington; his brother, Roger LaRock of Pittsford; as well as nieces,
nephews and extended family. Don was predeceased by his son, Donald
Patrick "Pat" LaRock, and by his brother, Arnold John LaRock.
Friends gathered at the Waterbury Village Fire House, South Main
Street, Waterbury for an open house and reception in honor of Donald L.
LaRock on Saturday, December 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. with the "Final
Alarm" toned at 3:30 p.m. Spring inurnment will take place in Holy
Cross Cemetery, Duxbury. The family requests that flowers be omitted;
rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to either the C.C. Fisher
Fund, c/o the Waterbury Fire Department, 51 South Main Street,
Waterbury, VT 05676, or to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600
Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641. Assisting the family is the
Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send
online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
