Richard Townsend Rose

Mr. Richard Townsend Rose departed this life on August 4, 2015, at the age of 88. He was born February 13, 1927 to the late Charles Richard and Mary Katherine Rose in Osceola, Arkansas. He lived in Blytheville most of his life and was a member of The First Christian Church. Mr. Rose attended the Tennessee Military Institute in Sweetwater, Tenn. and the University of Arkansas where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Alaska during World War II. He served as a member of the Mississippi County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Committee and as a Commissioner of Drainage District 17 from 1981 to 2003. He loved to hunt and play golf, but his passion was the family farm at Roseland, Arkansas, and spending time with his family. He farmed for over 60 years, 30 of those spent in partnership with his brother, the late Nick Rose of Blytheville. He was later joined in farming by his son, John, and grandson, Brad, in the family business. Mr. Rose was preceded in death by his son, Michael Lee Rose; a brother, Charles Nichol (Nick) Rose, and sister, Mary Katherine Curtis of Leland, Mississippi. Mr. Rose leaves his wife of 66 years, Mary Morgan Rose, of the home; two sons, Richard Townsend Rose Jr. and his wife, Sally of Monroe, La.; John Charles Rose and his wife, Kristi, of Blytheville; one daughter, Jenny Rose Rainey and husband, David, of Memphis, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Bradford Townsend Rose, John Charles Rose Jr. and his wife, Brittany of Blytheville; Cal Rose and his wife Elizabeth of Fayetteville, Ark. and Mary Katherine Rose Murphy and husband, Chuck, of Monroe, La.; two great grandchildren; Susan Marie and Daniel Murphy of Monroe, La., and his sister-in-law, Mary Ann Rose Williams of Blytheville. There will be a private burial. The family will receive friends at the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, August 5, 2015 from 5-7 p.m. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made to the Blytheville Humane Society or to the donor's choice. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.