F.A. Rockwell; Author, Teacher

A memorial service is scheduled Oct. 29 for F.A. Rockwell, who wrote five books on writing and handwriting analysis and more than 1,000 articles on various topics for major publications.

A longtime resident of Northridge, Ms. Rockwell was 76 when she died Sept. 1 of heart failure at a Woodland Hills hospital, said her daughter-in-law, Patti Rocklin.

Born Francis Alicia Rosenthal in Cincinnati, she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Cincinnati before moving to California in the early 1940s. Her books, written under the pen name F.A. Rockwell, include “How to Write Non-Fiction That Sells,” “How to Write Plots That Sell,” and “Graphology for Lovers.”

In addition, she was the ghostwriter of several autobiographies and was a former editor of Writer’s Digest magazine. She was working on her sixth book at the time of her death.

From the 1950s through the 1970s, Ms. Rockwell taught writing classes at Cal State Northridge, Pierce College, Valley College and with the Los Angeles Unified School District adult education program.

Ms. Rockwell is survived by her sons, Jeffery Rocklin of San Juan Capistrano and Keith Rocklin of Los Angeles; sister Nancy Opperman of Millbrook, N.Y., and three grandchildren.

She was buried in her hometown. Aftercare California Cremation & Burial Society in Van Nuys handled the arrangements. The memorial service is planned for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Meeting Place, Fallbrook Mall, 6633 Fallbrook Ave., Canoga Park.

Donations can be made in her name to the Giraffe Project Inc., P.O. Box 759, Langley, Wash. 98260-0759, or to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 12121 Wilshire Blvd., in Los Angeles 90025.