Richard Rick Nelson Rose

Richard Nelson Rose, 68, left this world and those who loved him on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington 76012. Rick was born on Feb. 4, 1947, in Longview to Dorothy and Marc Rose. He graduated from Copperas Cove High School and attended Tarleton State College before joining the Army in 1966. Rick spent 23 months in Special Forces (Green Beret) training prior to active duty in Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for meritorious service in a combat zone. Throughout his many walks of life, he developed innumerable friendships, in fact, Rick never met a stranger. After discharge from the Army, he served as a police officer in Copperas Cove as well as an undercover narcotics investigator for five years. Rick's next move was to the DFW area working for the Dallas Assistant District Attorney's office as an investigator for the welfare fraud division. In Athens, Texas, he was a deputy sheriff for several years. Rick was particularly proud of his role as investigator in the Betty Beets case, who according to the Dallas Morning News, was "one of the most infamous murderers in modern Texas history." His hobbies included hunting, fishing and being Paw Paw to Emma. After retirement he was constantly bombarded with health issues, which took their toll on him. However, not even a heart attack in 2013 could deter his courageous efforts to defend the Constitution in order to protect our freedom. As Rick would say, "Dying for freedom isn't the worst thing that could happen. Being forgotten is." Rick, you will not be forgotten!

Survivors: Wife, Bonnie Rose; daughter, Amanda Silva; son-in-law, David Silva; son, Jason; sister, Carol Williams; grandchildren, Emma (3 years), the light of his life, Brayden (1 month); nephews, Mark and Paul Williams; nieces, Shelly Rutherford and Kerri Wagers.