Frank A. Rose

Frank A. Rose, former Battle Creek resident, passed quietly December 2,2017. Predeceased by his siblings, Betty (Rose) Humeston, Jim Rose, Margaret (Rose) Sentowski, his wife, Joyce Spyker, and daughter, Susan Rose. Survived by his wife, Mary Rose, natural children, Rand (Gayle) Rose, Jayne (Larry) Rose-Vallee, Gordy Rose, and Jill (Chad) Arnold, and his embraced children, Tom (Sheryl) Stanley, Tim (Sue) Stanley, and Mary Beth Stanley. He was extremely proud of his grandchildren, Sean (Stacy) Rose, Matthew (Nicole) Cobb, Scott (Mara) Vallee, Rebecca (Josh) Bosworth, Lauren Vallee, Cory (Goldy) Rose, Joseph (Alexandra) Vallee, Brandon Rose, Brock and Carlie Arnold. His big heart welcomed Adam (Rebecca) Stanley, Rachel (James) Stone, Vanessa (Timothy) Watson, and Kimberly (Jon) Hard to this list. These fourteen grandchildren and his twenty-one great grandchildren will miss his whimsical drawings in birthday cards sometimes accompanied with a stick of gum.

Frank graduated from Battle Creek Central in 1948. He served in the Air National Guard Reserve. He married Joyce, his childhood sweetheart, in 1950. He did his apprenticeship at the Grand Trunk Railroad and took a job at Eaton Corporation where he worked for thirty + years. He was a charter member and elder of Pennfield Presbyterian Church and an associate member of First Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC. He was an active member of the VMCCA (Battle Creek Chapter) while residing in Michigan. He lived in Hendersonville, NC for the last twenty-seven years with his wife, Mary who tearfully shares, "He was the love of my life."

In Frank's garage lives a 35-Ford Roadster he's owned for over seventy years. Completely restored by him and painted cherry apple red, it exemplifies his ingenuity, tenacity, and perseverance. In addition to his love for family, his relationship with this automobile reminds us loyalty played a key role in his life. He will be remembered as quick-witted, loving, and playful to all of those who knew and loved him.

Funeral services to celebrate Frank's life will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 9, 2017 at Pennfield Presbyterian Church, 7979 St. Mary's Lake Road, Battle Creek, MI. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, starting at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial donations can be made to Pennfield Presbyterian Church and the Salvation Army, both of which minister God's love. Arrangements by the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.