Edward G. Herrock, 70, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., formerly of Lyndora, died Tuesday after an illness.

Born Dec. 25, 1934, in Lyndora, he was the son of George and Julia Zavacky Herrock.

He graduated from Butler High in 1953 and worked at Magnetics until 1960, when he moved to St Louis, Mo. In St Louis, he worked at the McDonnell Aircraft Co. on the Mercury space capsule and the Gemini program.

Mr. Herrock then was transferred to McDonnell Astronautics in Southern California to work on pyrotechnics for the Gemini program and became manager of the West Coast division in 1978. In 1995, he received the highest award given by McDonnell Douglas, the Spirit of Excellence Award. He retired in 1996.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Trevino Herrock; four sons, Andrew Herrock of Palm Springs, Calif., Jeffery and Tim Herrock of Fontana, Calif., and Mark Herrock of Newport Beach, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. John (Andrea) Badeau of Montclair, Calif.; and seven grandchildren.

Also surviving are two brothers, John and Raymond Herrock, both of Butler; three sisters, Mrs. Edward (Eleanor) Kisiel of Natrona Heights and Mrs. Daniel (Lois) Simmer and Grace Herrock, both of Butler; and 12 nieces and nephews.

HERROCK - Funeral services for Edward G. Herrock, who died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, were held in Whittier, Calif.