Harry E. Rose

Harry E. Rose, 82, of The Plains, and a long-time resident of Harmony Rd., Athens, died Saturday, June 14, 2008, in O'Bleness Memorial Hospital, from complications of emphysema.

Born April 9, 1926, on the family farm on South Canaan Rd., he was the seventh of eight children born to Frank and Edna Sears Rose. Harry graduated from Rome-Canaan High School in 1944, and enlisted in the United States Navy. He served honorably during the Second World War in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre.

As a young man, Harry sold produce and eggs from the family farm door-to-door in Athens, there he met Ruth Evans, and following Harry's service time, the two were married on May 6, 1951, in Athens' First Presbyterian Church.

In 1959, Harry was employed by the Columbia Gas Co., and held various positions in their local natural gas distribution division. Always a hard worker, Harry enjoyed his time at Columbia and the many, many people his work brought him in contact with over the years. He retired in 1988.

Harry was a life-long member of Canaanville United Methodist Church and a fifty-seven year member of Savannah Lodge No. 466 F. & A.M. in Guysville, of which he also served as treasurer.

He greatly enjoyed gardening and being outdoors. At the family home on Harmony Rd., Harry grew pumpkins for Halloween, Norway and blue spruce trees for sale at Christmas, and always maintained a large garden with a variety of vegetables for home use and to give away. After he moved to a smaller home in The Plains, one of the first things he did was to plot out a garden.

Harry was a devoted family man and did his best to give all of his children a good start in life. He was especially fond of his grandchildren when they came along.

Survivors include his beloved wife Ruth; two daughters, Harriet (Charlie) Walcutt of Gretna, NE, and Betsy (Mark) Wideman of New Philadelphia; three sons, George Rose of Arapahoe, NE, John Rose of The Plains, and Jim (Cathy) Rose of Gahanna; eight grandchildren, Ryan (Angie) Rose, Jay Rose, Julie, Charles and Jennifer Walcutt, Evan, Daniel and Molly Rose; two brothers, Tom Rose of Athens, and Dick Rose of Lancaster; sisters-in-law, Wanda Rose and Nancy Anders; brothers-in-law, Howard "Rowdy" Pond, Dwight "Scotty" Scott, David (Nancy) Evans and John (Pat) Evans; many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Harry was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Amanda Rose; two sisters, Pauline Pond and Helen Scott; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Marion and Hester Rose, and Ray and Dolores Rose; brother, Karl Rose; sisters-in-law, Susan Rose and Mary Rose; and brother-in-law, Doug Anders.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, June 19, at 11 a.m., in the Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens, with Pastor Jim Lambert officiating. Burial will be in Canaanville Cemetery. Following the committal, there will be a meal in the Canaanville Church. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Wednesday, June 18, 5-8 p.m.; a Masonic service will be held at 7:45. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Harry, please visit www.tolandherzig.com and click on obituaries.

The family suggests that contributions in Harry's memory be made to the Canaanville United Methodist Church, 15650 McAfee Rd., Athens, OH 45701, or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Jagers & Sons
740-593-3567