Leatrice Block Rosen

LEATRICE BLOCK ROSEN passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at the age of 90. She was the daughter of the late Beatrice W. Block and Samuel A. Block, one of the three founding brothers of the Block Realty Company in Little Rock. "Lit", as she was known to her friends, was born in Little Rock, Ark. on Nov. 9, 1924. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Abe S. Rosen and by her oldest son, Robert A. Rosen. She is survived by two sons, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, including Dr. Richmond L. Rosen and wife, Millie Zweir of Amherst, Mass. and their children, James, Sara and Lydia; Dr. Ronald B. Rosen and wife, Nicolina Rosen of Berea, Ky. and their children: Richmond and wife, Kimberly; Alexander and wife, Amanda and their children, Ezra and Penelope; and the sons of the late Robert A. Rosen: Sam and wife, Melanie and their children Benjamin, Henry and Addie; Christopher and wife, Sarah and their son, Oliver. She is also survived by a niece, Elissa and her husband, Michael Laviage of Houston, Texas and a nephew, Alan Aronstein, also of Houston, Texas. Lit graduated from Little Rock High School (now Central High) and attended Louisiana State University. She was a long standing member of Temple B'nai Israel. She was active in the Jr. Congregation and the Temple B'nai Israel Sisterhood where she held several different offices in the latter, including Vice President, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary. She also headed and served on various committees of the Sisterhood. Lit was on the Women's Emergency Committee (WEC) in 1958 following the dramatic events of 1957-58. At that time, Governor Orval Faubus called out the National Guard to block nine African American students from attending the Little Rock High School. The WEC was formed to combat the governor's closing of Little Rock (Pulaski County) high schools. The WEC became the first organization to publicly support reopening the schools under the district's desegregation plan. In a note composed by Lit in recent years, she listed her four most notable accomplishments in life which included: (1) her marriage to Abe, (2) her three sons, Robert, Richmond, and Ronald, (3) her subsequent "inheritance" of two wonderful daughters-in-law, and (4) the grandchildren and great-grandchildren that followed. Lit noted that Abe was smart, but that she was smarter since she married him. She noted that she was truly blessed. A private graveside service will be held at Oakland Jewish Cemetery on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at with Rabbi Barry Block officiating followed by a memorial service and reception beginning at 11 a.m. at Temple B'nai Israel. Memorials may be made to Temple B'nai Israel, the Humane Society of Pulaski County, or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.