Walter Franklin “Red” Rose, age 86 of Ahoskie, died Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at Roanoke Chowan Hospital.
Red was born January 18, 1922 in Yadkin County to the late Molly Sturdivant Rose and Eugene Franklin Rose.
During World War II he served with the 712th Tank Battalion of the 90th Infantry, 3rd Army under General Patton. Throughout his life he remained in contact with his comrades and was one of three remaining survivors.
In 1947 he married the late Doretha Pearle Chappell. He founded what is now known as Rose Brothers Paving Company, Inc. with his brother, Issac Sandy Rose, in 1952. The brothers moved the grading and paving business to Ahoskie and Edenton area in the early sixties from the northwestern part of North Carolina.
He is survived by three sons, Walter Frank Rose Jr. and wife, Penny, Jeffrey Chappell Rose and wife, Jeanna, all of Ahoskie, and Eugene Timothy Rose and wife, Sue, of Wake Forest; and a sister, Anna Faye Rose Martin of Hendersonville. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Chip Rose, Laura Rose Neelon, Holt Rose, Taylor Rose, Lauren Rose, Stephen Rose, O’ Anna Rose and Alex Rose and four great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at the First Baptist Church of Ahoskie.
The family requests that memorials be made to Chowan University, Walter F. and Doretha C. Rose Scholarship, C/O Development Office, 1 University Place, Murfreesboro, NC, 27855.
Friends and family may send online condolences to www.garrettfh.com.
Garrett Funeral Home is serving the Rose family.