David W Rose Sr

David Walter Rose Sr. 83, of Hot Springs, AR retired peacefully to Heaven on Wednesday, October 05, 2022. On March 05, 1939, he was born in Hot Springs, to Gladys Rose-Sanders and Walter Lee Rose and weighed only one pound. He wasn’t expected to survive. But boy, did he ever.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his in laws, Herman & Elice Short, his sister Dorothy Turpen and niece Jan Turpen.

He is survived by his wife Sharon, Son, David Walter Rose Jr. (Tami), Daughter, Jennifer, and Honorary Son, Ron Priest (Billie), all of Hot Springs, AR.

His Grandchildren; David Walter “Trey” Rose III (Austyn), Walker Rose (Shelby), Mary Rachel Rose Walston, Annelise Rose Walston, Hank Walston and one great-granddaughter, Magnolia Mae Rose.

David was a very proud alumni of Cutter Morning Star where his Daddy was the district bus driver and mechanic and his Mom worked in the cafeteria. He has many stories of charming his teachers into giving him good grades and to hear him tell it, basically running the school.

David married Sharon Joy (Short) Rose in 1961 and three years later started their family. Together, they raised kids, traveled, had fish fries, Sunday school parties and built a life they loved on beautiful Lake Hamilton. They celebrated their 61st Anniversary a couple of weeks ago with their favorite Sonic blasts.

He adored his older sisters, Dorothy and Joann and some of his happiest memories were traveling with them and their Mom to Branson on their yearly trips. He had so many hilarious stories about their experiences and I know he was overjoyed to hug Dorothy’s neck when he arrived in Heaven.

Known for his quick wit and the ability to always know what you should be doing, David was a natural born supervisor. He selflessly served our nation as a carpool in the Air National Guard. In his younger years his heart belonged to drag racing in which he excelled and has the trophies to prove it. His eyes would twinkle when he told about outrunning the police & finding creative hiding spots. He worked many jobs including Reynolds and even a chicken farm before but falling in love with home building and drawing his own house plans as the 70s rolled around. Mentored by his father in law, Herman Short, David started his own business and would soon become very successful. He planned to retire years ago but he loved working and being busy and the life of leisure just wasn’t for him. In fact, he had on his ‘work clothes’ when he arrived at the hospital last week. Working was his favorite.

In his free time he loved to fish for crappie and bass. David chose fishing Ouachita over De Gray if given a choice-but he would happily spend his Saturday mornings at one or the other for nearly five decades. The only thing that would get him back before “dark thirty” was if his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks’ game was televised. He preferred basketball, but football and baseball would work, too. I don’t know that he ever missed a game until this past Saturday and honestly, that was probably a good one to miss.

Over the years, David served on church committees and home builders associations and booster clubs. He enjoyed serving on the Morning Star Cemetery Board & being a member of Grand Avenue Baptist Church. He loved to help people and was such a giving man, but he’d prefer you not know that about him. He secretly bailed his friends out of debt, purchased their homes so they wouldn’t lose them, made loans he never collected on and did a whole lot of jobs for which he never made a penny. He would quite literally would give you the shirt off his back but you better turn off the lights when you leave a room, keep the door shut & don’t even think about touching his thermostat.

His 40 model Ford and his Skeeter boat were his prized earthly possessions. The only thing he loved more than peanut m&ms and reading his “Open Windows” daily devotional was his grandchildren, of whom he was very, very proud.

Visitation will be Sunday, October 9th, @4:00-6:00 p.m. at Gross Funeral Home.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Monday, October 10th, @1:00 p.m. at Grand Avenue Baptist Church with Rev. Tim Evans officiating.

A graveside service will immediately follow at Cutter Morning Star Cemetery.

His grandchildren will do the honor of being his Pallbearers.

Honorary Pallbearers include Ken Crawford, Tim White, Richard Dunn, Larry Pace, Mike Robbins, Thomas Brown, Alex Smith, Gary Pope, and Eddy Robertson.

The family would to thank the incredible care given by 911Operator Alex, Life Net, CHI St. Vincent Emergency Room staff, ICU nurses, especially Sarah, Ellen & Emily and respiratory staff. They were the biggest blessings to our family and we are forever grateful.