GOD HAS CALLED HOME ONE OF THE FINEST GENTLEMEN THAT I CAN REMEMBER FROM MY DAYS AT GRAY TOOL AND THAT GENTLEMAN IS ALVIN ROSE. ALVIN'S RELIGIOUS PREFERENCES WERE NOT KNOWN TO ME BUT I KNEW HE WAS CERTAINLY A SOLID CHRISTIAN BECAUSE IT SHOWED IN EVERY WAY AND EVERY DAY. THE PHOTO OF ALVIN IN THE OBITUARY IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT BECAUSE HE ALMOST ALWAYS HAD THAT GREAT SMILE ON HIS FACE. WHILE LIFE HAS HAD US TRAVELING DIFFERENT PATHS  WHICH HAVE NOT CROSSED IN A FEW YEARS, MY MEMORY OF HIM IS STILL QUITE VIVID. THE TIMING OF HIS VIEWING AND FUNERAL LEAVE ME DISTRESSED SINCE I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND. DISTRESSING BECAUSE IF ANYONE DESERVES RESPECT, IT IS ALVIN ROSE.
I WISH TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE AND DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO HIS LOVELY WIFE SUSAN, TO HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY, HIS SISTERS AND TO ALL OLD GRAY TOOL ACQUAINTANCES.
SINCERELY,
MEL GEPHARDT

What a fine man and mentor you were.  People who know me know that I was not always the easiest to work for or get along with.  I think you understood.  Rest in peace my friend. 

I am very sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Rose.  Please accept my sincere condolences to the family.   I know he will be missed.  

He was always a pleasure to talk to and I will miss seeing him at Juanitos or around in Pearland. 

My mom's garden still has the beautiful flowers blooming from the bulbs he gave her many years ago.


My greatest childhood memories start and end with you and grandma. You taught me how to forage and whittle, you taught me how to whistle, and you gave me this quiet reverence for nature that I don’t think a lot of people have anymore. My favorite memories are walking and biking trails with you and hearing you hum and tell me your stories. You were always giant- in stature and spirit. You anchored our whole family and, even now, I judge my actions by questioning if I’ve made you or grandma proud. I didn’t realize as a child how lucky I was to have you, but I realize as an adult that I was so blessed you were the one to guide me.

When you started getting more sick a couple months ago, you told me that you didn’t feel like you deserved the love and attention we all gave you. You told me you were worried you would be a burden. I thought that was the most insane thing you’ve ever said. You and grandma were always (and will continue to be) the center of our whole family’s universe, the driving force that makes us good people, and that will never change. 

Thank you for being our rock and our anchor for so long. You can rest now, Pop. And you can rest easy knowing we will take good care of grandma (who everyone knows is a literal angel sent from heaven who none of us are worthy of). I can’t wait to see you again and have you hug and hold me again. You were the absolute best and I’m so lucky to have had you in my life. 

I just learned of Alvin's passing.   He was a very genuine Christian man, and he was always smiling and joking and fun to be around.
Alvin and Susan were at church just about every time the doors were opened, and I think they were both a great blessing to everyone who has known them well.

When I interviewed with Alvin in 1977 I had no idea what Gray Tool   was.  The person who set-up the interview told me Gray Tool made fishing tools.  I thought that was pretty cool.  I was not prepared when Alvin took me on a plant tour and saw all these big machines and big pieces of steel with all these holes.  Alvin asked me what I thought as we walked around and I asked where the fishing stuff was.  Alvin chuckled and said "son, this is the Oil Field".   Alvin hired me anyway and started my career that would last over 41 years.  Alvin was my mentor and my friend.    Forever grateful for him being in my life.    

Alvin was one of the first 'Management' folks I met at Gray Tool Company when I started there in May, 1979.  Over the years that followed, I could always rely on him to be a 'straight-shooter' in our business dealings, and whenever I asked him for advice.  The most memorable conversation with Alvin was when we two were walking back to the Main Shop from 'The Big House' in the late '80's.  I had just been promoted to be the NHR Manager of Manufacturing Engineering and was very apprehensive about the new job.  I nervously asked Alvin, "What should I do?  What do I need to do differently?"  His comment;  "Don't change a thing; being yourself is what got you the promotion, so why change anything?"  I've never forgotten those word from Alvin, and they helped me for all the years forward in the rest of my career.  God Bless Alvin Rose!

OBITUARY

Alvin "Pop" Leon Rose

13 July, 1934 – 13 December, 2021

Forest Park East Funeral Home & Cemetery

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