James Theodore Rockwell, 82, of Newtown, died July 13, due to the progression of Alzheimer’s. Mr Rockwell, aka “Rocky,” was born in Newtown, the twelfth of 13 children of Elizabeth (Carl) Rockwell and Stephen Edmund Rockwell.

He attended Newtown schools and served in the US Navy as a machinist's mate on the USS Radford during the Korean Conflict. Mr Rockwell worked for several Danbury area machine shops before joining Sikorsky Aircraft in 1955. He remained with Sikorsky until his retirement in 1991.

He was a longtime member of First Congregational Church in Danbury, where he served several terms as a deacon. He loved his hymns and sang with exuberance, albeit often to the dismay of those within earshot.

He spent most of his life in the Danbury area, leaving only for his term in the Navy and a short time spent living the life of a gentleman farmer in Virginia.

His son Richard, and wife Diane, of Newtown and daughter Elizabeth of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren Rachel and Robin Rockwell, and Megan Rockwell of Newtown, Kristen Rockwell of Tonawanda, N.Y., Paul and Sarah Vincent of Columbus, Ohio, and Kyle and Jacob Hutchings of Danbury; and two sisters, Vi Williams of Kinderhook, N.Y., and Vera Coghill of Edinburgh, Scotland, survive Mr Rockwell. His wife Patricia (Perrotti) Rockwell, as well as son Stephen Rockwell and daughter Sharon Vincent Hutchings predeceased him.

The funeral will take place at the Hull Funeral Home, 60 Division Street, Danbury, Friday, July 19, at 11:30 am. Burial will follow at Wooster Cemetery, Danbury. The family will receive friends at the Hull Funeral Home during the half hour preceding the service, from 11 to 11:30 am.

Online condolences may be offered at www.Hullfuneralservice.com.