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Larry Robert Rockhold, 82, of Loveland, Colorado, died July 26, 2025.
He was born to the late Robert and Thelma Rockhold in Powell. Larry attended the local schools, graduating from Powell High School in 1961.
He went to Northwest College for two years, then the University of Wyoming, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1965. Vietnam was building up. With the loss of the student deferment Larry was facing the draft. He applied to and was accepted to Air Force Pilot Training. He joined the Air Force in January 1966. After the year of pilot training and upon receiving his wings he was assigned to a C-130 unit in Vietnam.
During the two years Larry flew 130s in Vietnam he hauled a variety of loads usually into and out of short jungle airstrips (vehicles, artillery shells, helicopter fuel, troops and KIAs). Each day a C-130, usually in the middle of the night, would collect the day’s KIAs. The bodies were in body bags on stretchers and were carried onto the airplane by their comrades and placed on the floor of the cargo compartment. Sometimes there would be as many as 15 or 20 if there had been a large firefight in the area. At the mortuaries the bodies were put into aluminum shipping caskets and sent home to their families. During Vietnam the caskets were seldom flag draped and returning caskets were not seen on the evening news, as they are now, due to the unpopularity of the war. While hauling a load of artillery shells to a firebase, the runway and unloading area came under enemy mortar and rocket attack; the much-needed shells were delivered. For this Larry was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
After two years in Vietnam, Larry was assigned to a C-130 unit at Forbes AFB near Topeka, Kansas. The unit was deployed to Europe several times while he was in the unit. During the two-month deployments they flew extensively in support of U.S. and NATO forces. While at Forbes, Larry was qualified as an instructor pilot. He was reassigned to Ellington AFB near Houston where he taught Air Guard pilots, who were transitioning from other aircraft, how to fly the C-130. Larry loved flying the C-130. He described it as “a pilot’s plane, sweet handling, plenty of power.”
He resigned from the Air Force and went to work in Denver for the Federal Aviation Administration as a pilot safety inspector. He retired from the FAA in 2011 and moved to Fort Collins, Colorado.
His parents, Robert and Thelma Rockhold and a sister, Judy, preceded him in death. He is survived by daughter Jenny (Rod) Rogers of Loveland and grandson Jayden Rogers and a brother, Richard of Park City, Utah.
We would like to thank Riverbend Health and Rehab facility of Loveland, Colorado, where Larry spent the last nearly three years of his life. He was well cared for and created special bonds with multiple people.
While in Vietnam Larry was exposed to the herbicide, Agent Orange; as a result memorial donations in Larry’s name can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at Parkinson.org.
Per his wishes no services are planned; his ashes will be interred at Crown Hill in Powell, at a later date, in a private ceremony.
