Evelyn Rockhold

Evelyn Rockhold, a social pioneer in Noblesville, and nearly a lifetime resident, passed away December 2 in Lakeland, Florida. She was 88 years old. Evelyn was born December 15, 1922 in Hamilton County. She was the daughter of Thomas Clem Ridgeway and Sylvia Marie Berg Ridgeway.
After graduation from Walnut Grove High School in 1940, Evelyn married Charles W. Rockhold from Dunbar, West Virginia, who retired as a Vice President from Firestone. Her husband precedes her in death.
Evelyn loved serving this area as the first female sheriff's deputy under Cliff McCory. She was most proud of becoming the first female bailiff in Hamilton County, and successfully championing and receiving equal pay for women in the Noblesville court and correctional systems. Evelyn and her husband were long standing members of the United Methodist Church of Noblesville.
Evelyn is survived by three sons, Charles, Ronald, and Gary Rockhold, her sister, Phyllis M. Sears, and brother Le Roy Ridgeway. She will be missed by her grandchildren Kolbi Hunt, Kelly Rockhold, Kyle Rockhold, and Kory Rockhold, and her great grandchildren Matthew and Zachary Hunt, Christian Tyler, and Eve Rockhold.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother T. Eugene Ridgeway.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at Randall & Roberts Funeral Home, 1150 Logan Street in Noblesville, with visitation from 11:00 to 1:00 pm, prior to the service. Interment will follow at Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville. The Rev. Jack Wolfe will officiate the service.