Albert "Rock" Arant's Obituary
Colonel Albert “Rock” Arant, USAF (retired) passed away on April 20, 2012, at Falcons Landing in Sterling, VA. Rock was born October 13, 1922 in Rowesville, SC. He was in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1974, serving in both WWII and Korea with overseas assignments in Japan, Libya, and Korea. During his military career he was a flight instructor and a communications officer, earning his Masters in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. He held a variety of positions including stints at Defense Communications Agency and the National Security Agency. After retiring from the Air Force, Rock joined Hughes Aircraft Company as a satellite specialist.
In 1946 Rock married Joy L. Booth from Center, Texas and together they travelled the world and raised their two sons.
A quiet, unassuming man, Rock loved dancing, gardening, fishing, gourmet cooking, poker, and tracing his family history. He is pre-deceased by his parents Robert Kirkland Arant and Georgean Sain Arant, and brothers Michael and Robert Arant, all of Orangeburg, SC. Rock is survived by his loving wife Joy and his two sons Kirk (Yasha) of Sterling, VA, and Randy (Sherry) of Warrenton, VA; his grand-daughters Jessica of Omaha, NE, Mariah and Taplin, of Sterling, Virginia; his brother James Arant of Orangeburg, SC, many loving nieces, nephews, and hundreds of friends.
There will be a viewing on Tuesday May 1 between 6-8 pm at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel on Catoctin Circle in Leesburg, VA, and a memorial service on Wednesday, May 2 at 2 PM at Falcons Landing in Sterling, VA. Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 3:00pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 in Arlington National Cemetery. Those that wish to attend should arrive at the administration building on the grounds by 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Fisher House (111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville Maryland 20850 888 294-8560) which provides lodging for military families near veterans hospitals.
What’s your fondest memory of Albert ?
What’s a lesson you learned from Albert ?
Share a story where Albert 's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Albert you’ll never forget.
How did Albert make you smile?
