Rose Elizabeth was born on December 8, 1920, in Galveston Texas. She was the only child of Ivy and Nora Watkins. Soon afterwards, they moved to Corpus Christi, to be near family. After several years, job opportunities drew them to Houston, where they remained.
Rose blossomed into a beautiful young woman, who one day happened to notice the new milkman. She thought the sight of him driving a team of white horses was beautiful. When their eyes met, it was love at first sight. She married her Prince Charming, Frank Svaton, and their marriage lasted for 65 years, until his death in 2006. Rose passed peacefully, at the age of 97, while her great-grandson was reading scriptures of comfort to her.
She leaves behind two daughters; Rose Marie Tilotta and Carol Anne Sparkman; seven grandchildren; John, Stephanie, James, Shellie Anne and Sarah Rose Sparkman, Jared and Jeremy Tilotta; twenty great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
