Obituary of Kenneth Roy Rose

Mr. Kenneth Roy Rose, 95, of Clark Avenue, Fort Plain, New York died Sunday, June 17, 2012 at Palatine Nursing Home. Born on September 2, 1916 in Stephentown, NY, he was the son of Roy D. Rose and Ivadell Saxby Rose. He was a graduate of Heuvelton High School in Heuvelton, NY. Mr. Rose had been a local area resident since 1946, previously residing in St. Lawrence County. From 1946-1952, Mr. Rose was the Manager of G.L.F. Farmer's Corporation of Fort Plain and from 1952-1972 he was a proprietor with his brother, the late Austin Rose, of the Rose Brothers Red and White Supermarket of Fort Plain. In 1958 he built Valley Bowl, a Bowling Alley in Fort Plain with Fred Kirkpatrick, Harvey Smith and his brother. Subsequently he was employed as a Salesman for the Mohawk Valley PennySaver of Palatine Bridge for 12 years until retiring in 1985. Following his retirement he was a dispatcher for many years with Mid-County Volunteer Ambulance Service. Mr. Rose was a Veteran of the US Army, serving during World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the Pacific Theater with the Signal Corp. He was a member of the former St. James Catholic Church Council from 1979-1988 and was also a St. James Bingo Chairman for many years. He more recently attended Salem United Methodist Church in Stone Arabia. Mr. Rose was a member and past commander 9 times of the Fort Plain American Legion Post #554, past County American Legion Commander and was a member for many years of the Fort Plain VFW Earl Stock Memorial Post #3275. On May 16, 1942, Mr. Rose was married to his first wife, Audrey E. Baker Rose. She preceded him in death on September 23, 1982. Mr. Rose remarried and was predeceased by his second wife, Thelma Smith VanPatten Rose on February 25, 2008. He was also predeceased by a son, Charles K. Rose; sister, Elise Walton; brother, Austin Rose; step-sons, Carl VanPatten and Timothy VanPatten. Mr. Rose is survived by a daughter, Margaret "Peg" McDonald of Fort Plain, NY; step-children, Linda Hoffman of St. Johnsville, NY, Karen Polmateer of Ephratah, NY, Lisa Buckbee of Maine; 6 grandchildren, Crystal Daurio, Tim Rose, Kelly Rose, Carin Lane, Katie Rose, all of Albany, NY, Pastor Phil Bevilacqua of Prattville, AL; 8 great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; several step-great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 11:00am at the Chapel of Gray-Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, 34 Center Street, Fort Plain, NY with Rev. Nancy Pullen officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 10-11:00am at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Fort Plain Cemetery. Contributions in memory of Mr. Kenneth Rose may be made to the Mid-County Volunteer Ambulance Service, 46 West Grand Street, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428, American Legion Fort Plain Post #554, State & Webster Sts., Fort Plain, NY 13339 or the Fort Plain VFW Earl Stock Memorial Post #3275, 30 River Street, Fort Plain, NY 13339.