DEROCHER, JR., Wilfred L. (Bill)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, April 27, 2014 Wilfred L. (Bill) DeRocher Jr., 89, passed away on Good Friday, April 18, 2014, peacefully at his home. He was born on June 4, 1924, in Avon, Mass., to Wilfred Leroy and Mary Victoria (Day) DeRocher. Bill was raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, until he joined the United States Navy during World War II. Among other assignments, he served on the Subchaser SC 737 in the South Pacific. After completing college at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, he spent his working career as an aerospace engineer. He worked for NACA (later NASA) in Cleveland, Ohio where he met and married Mildred Ada Cooke. They moved to North Tonawanda, N.Y., where Bill worked for Bell Aircraft and they started their family. This was followed by a few years in Huntington Station on Long Island, where they added the twins to the family. Bill and his wife Millie completed the raising of their three children during the 25 years they spent in Littleton, Colo., while Bill worked at what was then Martin Marietta Corporation. They retired to Prescott, Ariz., in 1988. Bill has been a lifelong Episcopalian and in their retirement has enjoyed a wide range of activities from working on his computer through helping his church with financial analysis, helping Habitat For Humanity build houses by driving nails and painting. He particularly liked to solve problems. He and his wife Millie enjoyed hiking, golfing, traveling and visiting their children and grandchildren. Survivors include his son, David DeRocher and his wife Janice of Aurora, Colo.; daughter Denise Vogels and her husband Robert of Littleton, Colo.; daughter Dawn Garrett and her husband James of Nampa, Idaho; and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Millie and his sister Mary Fagan of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, 1401 East Dry Creek Road, Littleton, Colo. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Prescott or to the charity of your choice. Information provided by survivors.