Ray James Rose

Ray was born at Rosedale, Ark. on Dec. 15, 1916, to Frank and May Shrader Rose. He was a retired supervisor from the U. S. Postal Service and a real estate agent. Ray enjoyed square dancing and ballroom dancing where later in life he and his wife Virginia won many awards including first place five times for chacha and polka. Ray loved fishing and while he and Virginia lived at Natural Dam for a number of years spent countless hours taking care of a huge garden, raising cattle, and spending time with his horse and dog.

Ray served in the Navy during WW II and was a former member of Midland Heights Methodist Church; Fraternal Order of Eagles; Lions Club; American Legion; NARFE; the Century, Dervish, and Diamond ballroom dance clubs.

He was preceded in death by: his wife Virginia - married 74 years; his parents Frank and May Rose who died when he was very young; his grandparents Lewis and Martha Jane Rose who raised him and his siblings in Roland, Okla.; his brother Charley Bill Rose; and four sisters Hazel Griffin, Dessie Holt, Ethel Archibald and Sarah Lamadrid.

He graduated from Roland High School in 1933 at the age of 16 and attended Draughon Business College for one year.

He leaves to cherish his memory two daughters Nancy Jane and her husband Glen Fowler (who was like a son to him) and Lynda Kay Goff all presently of Roland, Okla.; four grandsons Mark Fowler and his wife Cindy, of Mayflower, Ark., Todd Fowler and his wife Sally, of Johnson City, Tenn., Kevin Goff of Garland, Texas, and Kyle Goff of Conway, Ark. He also has nine great grandchildren: Cortney Davis and her husband Danny, Sarah and Emily Fowler of the Dallas area; Sarah Catherine, Edward, Preston and Elizabeth Ann Fowler of Johnson City, Tenn., Taylor and Kendall Goff of Auburn, Alabama.

Ray was a wonderful dad and super PaPa and will be missed by all those who knew him.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, September 3, 2012, at Edwards Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at Edward's Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Reverend Paul DeNeui. Burial will be at the Fort Smith National Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to: www.edwardsfuneralhome.com