Beatrice E. "B" Rosenbaum

Beatrice E. "B" Rosenbaum, age 105, of Battle Creek passed away on January 18, 2014 at Bronson Battle Creek.

Beatrice was born in Coleman, MI on July 2, 1908. At age 13, she went to live on the William Collins farm near Vicksburg, MI. On the farm, she came to love so much, she learned the farm life and joys of living with a wonderful Ma and Pa Collins. She cooked with Ma, rode horses, raised her two beloved pigs, rode in the sleigh in wintertime, ran foot races at the picnics in the summertime, and grew in this nurturing environment. In 1929 she graduated from Vicksburg High School.

At the end of the summer she called the Battle Creek Sanitarium to inquire about student nurse openings for the coming year. There was one cancellation and was told if she came over right away she could have the spot. This broadening education led to many lifelong friendships. She studied with Dr. John Harvey Kellogg as a student nurse. In 1932 Beatrice graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Battle Creek Sanitarium School of Nursing. Beatrice practiced nursing for a number of years. As an office nurse, Beatrice had W.K. Kellogg as her patient. She was active in the San Nurses Auxiliary.

On July 2, 1937, Beatrice E. Babcock and Wayne A. Rosenbaum married. They were married for 56 years and had two children, Susie and Jon. B was very active with her children, supporting school activities and their individual interests. Summers were spent enjoying Gull Lake at the boathouse.

B was an avid painter, loved long walks, enjoyed lunch with friends, and received great satisfaction tending her garden. She also loved nature, forests, lakes, traveling, flying, sewing, doll making, and building bird houses. At age 86, she needed a new residence. She searched for, bought a house, and moved into it. She enjoyed doing the household tasks to maintain her new home.

Her favorite memories included life on the William Collins farm near Vicksburg, where Beatrice blossomed into a responsible young woman and professional. Living with the Fred, Hilda, and Robert Cohrs Family in Vicksburg during high school built lifelong relationships. Sharing her life with her many friends in Battle Creek was very important to her.

Above all Beatrice loved her family and devoted herself to supporting them in every way she could.

Beatrice is survived by daughter, Susan K. Elliot; grandsons, Christian S. Elliot and Matthew R. Elliot; great- grandson, Jacob Elliott, and son, Jon M. Rosenbaum.

A visitation will be held 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home where funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Interment service will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in the chapel. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health at Stanford University. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.