Rose A. Rodriguez

Rose was born on March 26, 1930. She graduated from Colton High School in Southern California as Rose Aranda. She was an energetic and caring young woman who enjoyed participating in girls’ sports. She was also crowned Miss Colton. In November 1952, she married Joseph C. Rodriguez, a 1951 recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor from service during the Korean war. Rose worked in administration at then Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, CA, and she gave birth to son Charles in 1953. Three years later, she gave birth to son Larry in the Panama Canal Zone. Rose’s daughter, Karen was born in 1961 at Fort Belvoir, VA.

Rose moved with her children to several locations where her husband was stationed including Washington State, the Canal Zone, Springfield, VA, La Paz, Bolivia, Fort Hood, Texas, Rialto, CA, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Fort Bliss, TX. She enjoyed raising her family in these locations and in 1980 settled in El Paso for nearly 27 years. While in El Paso, she earned her license and became an active realtor for more than 20 years. Her husband passed away in 2005. As a widow and shortly afterward, she re-located to live next door to her daughter’s family in Copperas Cove, TX.

Rose enjoyed hosting visits by her immediate and extended family and encouraging her children and grandchildren. Her affectionate smile and tender but lively spirit made her home a special place of calm and full of wonderful family memories.

Raised Roman Catholic, Rose attended the Cove Church of the Nazarene in Copperas Cove, TX, where she was an inspiration to the children of the church and to members of the adult Sunday School class that she regularly attended. ‘Miss Rose’ brightened the lives of church friends and family alike, sharing delightful stories about her world travels and helpful encouragement to her 11 grandchildren and 17 grandchildren.

Rose’s hobbies included painting and beading. Her original paintings were wondrously colorful and elicited compliments from her long list of friends. She loved music, especially waltz and contemporary music of her day, and she enjoyed dancing. She also became a very good bowler and golfer with her husband. With him, Rose’s travels throughout the U.S. and overseas were special memories for her.

Rose is preceded in death by her husband, Colonel Joseph C. Rodriguez, and her father Lorenzo and her mother Epigmenia Hernandez Aranda, as well as by five of her siblings: Margaret Mercado, Tony Aranda, Louie Aranda, John Aranda, and Richard Aranda. Surviving her are her sisters Ramona Genemaras, Evangelina De La O, Virginia Carrillo, and her brothers Joe Aranda and Rey Aranda. She is also survived by her three children, 11 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren.

A memorial service for Rose Rodriguez will be held at the Cove Church of the Nazarene, 964 West Highway Business 190, Copperas Cove, TX 76522 on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 6:00 PM.

A short graveside time of remembrance is scheduled on August 12, 2022 (Friday), starting at 10:00 AM, on the grounds of Mt. View Mortuary & Cemetery, 570 E. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, CA. Her final internment next to her husband’s gravesite will be private and follow later.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable gift to the church or nonprofit organization of your choice as a memorial contribution in honor of the life of Rose Rodriguez.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Rose Rodriguez’s family may be shared at: www.crawfordbowerscopperascove.com or h