Obituary

Theodore “Ted” Arthur Rose, 85, of Charleston, WV, passed away on August 26, 2024 after a relatively short-lived cardiac event.

Ted was born on April 27, 1939, to William Charles and Nellie Marie (Schaefer) Rose in Beaver Falls, PA. He graduated from Beaver Falls High School in 1957.

Ted and his loving wife of 50 years, Rosemary “Rose” Josephine (Coleman) Rose married in 1961, and quickly began to manage simultaneous growth of family, employment, and education. Their romance began after Ted returned from military service, and five children followed in quick succession as he dug ditches and attended night school until he achieved his Engineering degree in 1970 from Geneva College.

Although he had many employers for a time, Ted settled into a wonderful opportunity with Columbia Gas beginning with physical labor, and eventually leading to management and a prized pair of retirements from both Columbia and Mountaineer Gas.

Ted’s most prized accomplishment was the nurturing of a strong family legacy. Both Ted and Rose came from a large and very family-oriented background. In this setting, it was natural for Elizabeth “Beth” Marie Rose, Barbara “Barb” Ann Abel, Theresa “Teri” Lynn Hurban, William “Bill” Charles Rose, Rosemary “Rose” Kathleen Rose, and Theodore “Ted” Arthur Rose II to develop very strong familial connections with many members of all their growing families. From here, Ted deeply enjoyed visits with his grandchildren, Lauren (Abel) Burkhart, Christopher Rose, Mike Hurban, Rick Hurban, David Hurban, Alexander Valentine, Hannah Lynam, Ren Rose, Sierra Winland, Ted Rose III, and River Winland, and great-grandchildren, Hallie Jo Abel, Nino Hurban, and Charlotte Hurban.

Ted’s siblings, Carolyn Weinhold, William “Bill” Rose, Nancy O’Keefe, Louise “Lou” Pryor and Rose’s siblings, Kathleen “Kathy” Hartshorn, Thomas “Tom” Coleman, Robert “Bob” Coleman, and Margaret “Peg” Bowen became close family in their own right; Ted and Rose hosted massive extended family gatherings nearly every Memorial Day weekend for decades, a tradition that their children continued after Rose’s passing in 2011.

Another poignant factor of Ted’s life was his desire to grow and add to his family by including dear friends into the mix. A primary example of this, and a major point of honor for Ted and his family and friends was his time of service with the 82nd airborne. There, he got to more deeply connect with his lifelong friend, Jack San Felice. Other noteworthy lifelong friends include Bob and Julie Sakraida and all their family, although there were hundreds of vital friends.

Ted was a man of many interests and abilities, but among his favorite ways to pass time were playing poker, remodeling, hunting, the Pittsburgh Steelers, gardening, and napping. Before Rose’s passing, and as long as she was well enough, he took her out to enjoy her great love, singing karaoke, and looked on quietly with adoration as she displayed her skill and joy; over the years, they also shared a love for a good game of Scrabble, and often played several games a day.

The family will be hosting a celebration of Ted’s life at a point in the future when all the family are healthy and able to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a small donation to ACLU WV, or simply reaching out to a friend to say “I love you,” as Ted so often did.

You may send condolences to his family at www.barlowbonsall.com .

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.