Alan Douglas Rose

September 9, 1942 – January 24, 2026

Alan Douglas Rose was called home on January 24, 2026, at the age of 83.

Alan was born in Chico, CA, in 1942, to Warren and Joyce Rose. Before he was 10 years old, Alan put his trust in Jesus as his Savior. Not long after that, his family moved to a ranch near Richvale, CA. By age 14, Alan was a truck and tractor driver for the family rice farm. Alan graduated from Biggs Union High School; he earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from Chico State College.

Alan served two years during the Vietnam War as a USAF Education Specialist at Perrin Air Force Base in Texas. In June of 1967, Alan flew home to marry Judy, and the bride and groom drove back to Texas together. Alan was honorably discharged to inactive service in 1968.

Alan earned his teaching credential in 1969 and taught English at the high school in Williams, CA. Soon the Roses had two little girls, Julie and Sally. Alan and Judy were founding members of Williams Neighborhood Church (C&MA), where they sang in the choir and taught Sunday School, and Alan served as treasurer. In February of 1977, Alan began teaching at Simpson College in San Francisco. He lived in the dorm during the week, going home to his family in Williams on the weekends.

In 1978, Alan, Judy, and the girls moved to Pacifica, CA—a 25-minute commute from the college. They lived on the campus of the Christian school where Judy taught, and they attended San Francisco Neighborhood Church. Alan took his family on two cross-country train trips. Soon he was arranging trips for other people as a hobby and turned it into a moonlight job, becoming known as the “Arranger of Adventures.” The family moved to Redding, CA, when Simpson College (now University) relocated to a new campus in 1989. Neighborhood Church (now Pathway) became their church home.

As an Assistant Professor at Simpson, Mr. Rose taught composition and literature courses in the English department for 36 years. He especially enjoyed reading stories to his students and helping them to appreciate Shakespeare. Alan incorporated biblical truth into each of his courses, and he challenged his students to approach their study of literature from a biblical viewpoint. Alan retired in 2013, but he continued sharing his love of good books and the desire to learn as long as he was able, good-naturedly correcting people’s grammar all along the way. For Alan, now begins his greatest adventure yet.

Alan was predeceased by his parents (Warren and Joyce) and brothers (Clinton and Richard). He is survived by his wife of 58 years (Judy), two daughters (Julie and Sally), a son-in-law (Sally’s husband Joel), and a half-brother (Stephen).

Alan will be buried in the Northern California Veterans Cemetery near Redding. There will be a short graveside service on February 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. An informal Celebration of Life gathering is being planned for later in the spring; the date is yet to be determined.

In remembrance of Alan Rose’s life, the family suggests charitable donations could be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 (samaritanspurse.org) or to The Alliance, One Alliance Place, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-3563 (cmalliance.org).