Clarence Edward Rochat

CLARENCE EDWARD ROCHAT-age 95, died Thursday, March 19, 2015. He was born October 8, 1919, in the Ritta Community of Knoxville, TN, and was the oldest son of French-Swiss immigrant Henri Constant Rochat and mother Mellie Sean Wright Rochat. He was raised on a farm and milked cows from the time he was 10 years old until the time of his Navy enlistment. He attended Ritta Elementary School, graduated in 1938 from Central High School, and in 1947 from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He enlisted in the US Navy January 10, 1942, and served as an electrician on the Battleship USS Indiana in the South Pacific. After graduation from OCS at Notre Dame, he was commissioned as an Ensign May 31, 1944. He served aboard the Destroyer USS Izard during the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he witnessed the raising of the flag, and later during the early occupation of Japan. In his youth, he was a member of Washington Pike Presbyterian Church. He later joined Eastminster Presbyterian Church and served many years as a deacon and elder; he volunteered in the FISH program, and gave many years of devoted service after his retirement. He loved his church family. Clarence worked as an electrical engineer for Knoxville Utilities Board in power line distribution, and retired after 25 years of service in 1974. After a weekend of retirement, he continued work as an electrical engineer for TVA in the design of nuclear power plants until his second retirement in 1987. He was a member of IEEE. Preceded in death by his parents and brother Arthur Rochat, killed in action at Luppy, France, on November 12, 1944. Also preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Hazel Jenkins Rochat, friend since age 9 and sweetheart in grammar and high school. His survivors include daughters Rebecca Rochat, Susan Joiner and husband David, son Phillip Rochat and wife Anna; grandchildren Samuel Joiner and wife Tyler, Caleb Joiner and wife Shera, Ruth Duncan and husband Reuben, Lydia Burney and husband Chiayim, Joseph, Silas and John David Joiner; great grandchildren Savannah and Miles Joiner, Titus Duncan; sisters Ethel Stone, Louise Lynch and Rosalie Smeltzer; nieces and nephews John Richey, Mike Smeltzer, Marguerite Eddy, Kenny Lynch. The family will receive friends Sunday, March 22, 2015, from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. Funeral services will follow at 4:00 pm with Dr. Sean White officiating. Interment service will be held at 10:00 am Monday, March 23, 2015, at Washington Pike Presbyterian Church Cemetery with Full Military Honors conducted by the East Tennessee State Veterans Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church 4904 Asheville Highway Knoxville, TN 37914. Online obituary may be viewed and condolences extended at www.rosemortuary.com.

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Clarence Edward Rochat

October 8, 1919 - March 19, 2015