Rose Marie White Walton

Rose Marie White Walton passed away on August 25, 2018 after 87 years of a love-filled life. Rose Marie was born December 26, 1930 to Charles Todd Applegate and Edythe Anna Covert Applegate in Houston, TX. She was one of 5 siblings. Her brother, Charles Russell Applegate, and 2 of her sisters, Edith Isaacks Robin and Marjorie Lee Applegate, predeceased her, but she is survived by her younger sister Jeanne LaVonne Henson. In 1948 Rose Marie married Bryan Lyndol White. They had 4 children: Linda Marie Hovey, Deborah Kay Gentry, Nancy Lee Grasshoff, and Bryan Lynn White, all of whom survived their mother. Rose Marie’s husband, Bryan, predeceased her in 1988. In 1994 Rose Marie married Byron Walton, himself a widower. Byron survived Rose Marie – they enjoyed 24 years of happy marriage and were completely devoted to one another. Rose Marie is also survived by her brother-in-law Gene Allen Henson, sons-in-law W. Rod Hovey, V. Dwyatt Gentry, and Richard L. Grasshoff, and daughter-in-law Jennifer I. White. Rose Marie had, from her marriage to Bryan, 9 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. She also had a large extended family through Byron. Rose Marie is survived by step-daughters Janice Sue Kello [husband Doug Kello] and Pamela Jean Willman and their children and grandchildren. Rose Marie is further survived by many nieces and nephews. Rose Marie’s relationship with each of those individuals, and so many others who are not mentioned here, was as genuine and loving as anyone could ever hope for.

Rose Marie was a pioneer for the cosmetology vocational program for the Pasadena ISD. She was the first cosmetology teacher at J. Frank Dobie High School and taught there for over 20 years, teaching hundreds of students a valuable licensed vocation. Rose Marie was also a long-time and active member of Sagemont Church, having joined in the early 1970s. She had a life-long heart to serve and help others and did so in so many ways, both through the church and on her own. She did so much for so many with such a kind and generous spirit.

Rose Marie loved being surrounded by and cooking for family members. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners were truly wonders to behold. She had a wonderful sense of style that could be seen in her appearance and attire and in her home décor as well. She loved going on shopping excursions with her daughters where they all found and collected their own personal treasures. She also had a special love for flowers and birds. She had a quick wit and a beautiful smile that befriended everyone. She will be sorely missed, but lives on in so many hearts. Her love was unbounded, and now, so is her spirit.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 31, 2018 at the Grand View Funeral Home, 8501 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena, TX 77536. Visitation is from 9:00AM until 10:00AM and the funeral service will follow at 10:00AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sagemont Church Helping Hands Ministry or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, NY.