It was late afternoon in the high desert. The sun was toasting a small, eclectic community in the Nile Valley of northern Nevada. Suddenly, an eerie silence seemed to resonate throughout the land. "Rocky" Ging, well-known in Lovelock as the "Town Crier" for the mobile announcement service he'd provided for over 50 years, had just passed away.
Born to Glen Samuel and Ola Emay Ging, on May 1, 1923, in Carthage, IN, Roscoe Loel Ging died on July 9, 2012, in Fallon, NV, after a brief illness.
He was raised in central Indiana and graduated from Arlington High School, Rush County, IN, in 1941. On March 14, 1948, Roscoe married Verona Valentine Thomas, daughter of Horace Samuel "Chic" and Genevieve Rickey Thomas. For the next few years, they lived in several communities near his parents' farm in Greenfield, IN. In addition to helping with the family farm, Rocky was active in Christian churches and worked for Railway Express Agency as relief agent and delivery driver in many locations throughout Indiana. Bowling and roller skating were his favorite hobbies.
In the summer of 1959, Rocky moved his family from Connersville, IN, to Lovelock, NV, where he became permanently attached to the community he'd love and cherish for the rest of his life. He was employed by his father-in-law's Nevada Iron Ore Co., Inc. He was active in the Republican Party and served as the county chairman for many years. In the late '60s, he was elected to serve on the Pershing County School Board. Also during this time, he became the town's first 'tweeter' by using a pick-up truck equipped with a PA system to drive through the streets making announcements. These ranged from emergency messages involving the city's water system to dinner specials at local restaurants and everything in between.
In the '70s, Rocky became transportation supervisor for the Pershing County School District. He drove bus routes, trained drivers and maintained the fleet of equipment. He also received an award for driving over a million miles without an accident. The inside joke he'd relate to this occupation was, "It would be a pretty good job if it weren't for all those kids." His affection for many of the students kept him as a member of their extended families for years well beyond their scholastic experience.
Also around this time, he began a long-running affiliation with the American Heart Association and helped teach CPR to hundreds of people. His interest in healthcare led to him serving on the local hospital board and teaching driver's ed. to senior citizens.
The '80s saw Rocky's retirement from the school district and the beginning of a new career in videography. From then, through nearly his final day on earth, he recorded and distributed countless community events onto video format through his operation of Nile Valley Sight & Sound.
In an interview just a few weeks prior to his death he was asked, "What's your occupation?" With just a momentary pause to reflect on a lifetime of vocational diversity he declared, "I'm a truck driver." He enjoyed being behind the wheel in the operation of any vehicle. One of his more recent passions was converting his riding lawn mower to a snow plow and clearing the sidewalks in his neighborhood as needed.
Serving people was Rocky's mission in life. Whether it meant offering a helping hand, or bringing a cheerful spirit to someone in need, he thrived on, and was nourished by, the opportunity to give unto others. He was a frequent blood donor and had compiled a lifetime contribution in excess of ten gallons.
Mr. Ging was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Gail E. Ging. He is survived by his wife, Verona Ging of Lovelock, his sister, Eloise Ging Davis and niece Cindy S. Davis of Indianapolis, IN; daughter Nancy Ging, granddaughter Joan Ging and great-grandson Samuel Ging of Lummi Island, WA; son Aaron Ging of Reno, NV; niece Jeanne Davis of Terre Haute, IN; sister-in-law Jule Ging and nephew Norman Ging (Anne) of Chelsea, OK.
Lovelock's New Life Fellowship hosted a memorial service for Rocky on August 9th. Donations in his name can be made to the Lovelock Animal Control at P.O. Box 1100, Lovelock, NV. 89419, or the Adopt-a-Senior Program.
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