Julian Deichman Rose

Julian Deichman Rose, age 91, of Spring Arbor, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at Arbor Manor. He was born during the Dust Bowl on July 18, 1925, in Winfield, Kansas, the first child of Reverend Julian Donavan and Berneice Lorena (Deichman) Rose. His family moved to Chicago in 1935. He graduated from Tilden Technical High School in Chicago in 1943. At age 18, he became a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy in service to his country during World War II. He served in the South Pacific on Tinian Island witnessing the return of the Enola Gay with its lights on signaling "Mission Accomplished". He graduated from Spring Arbor Junior College in May 1948, and continued his education at Greenville College, graduating in 1950 with a B.A. followed by graduate work at Michigan State University. While at Spring Arbor, he met and then later married Donna Lou Cobb of Williamston, Michigan in 1949. Following the war, he was in and out of tuberculosis sanitariums over a five year period. Julian and Donna had three children while living in Williamston, and lived a brief time in Gary, Indiana before moving to Rockville, Maryland where the four younger children were born. Julian worked in Carderock, MD for the Department of Defense at the David Taylor Model Basin Naval Ship Research and Development Center as a mathematician for 35 years where he programmed some of the earliest computers. He served his God and the Free Methodist Church in many ways as Sunday School teacher, youth director, church treasurer, delegate, board member, choir member, Youth for Christ board, and a member of the Gideons.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Donna Lou (Cobb) Rose and grand daughter: Angelica Ruth VanGilder.

He is survived by his children: Ruthella (David) Van Gilder, Lowell Glenn (Clarice), John Milton (Linda), Bethany Lynn Mason, Marilyn Jean (Ron) Frederick, Penny Lou (Daryl) Couch, Warren Frank (Tonie); his brother, Frank Edward (Florence) and his sister, Esther Ella Rose; 21 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren and counting...

Visitation will be from 5pm-8pm Thursday, May 11th, 2017 at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home 205 East Middle St., Williamston, MI 48895.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am Friday, May 12th, 2017 with one hour prior visitation at Williamston Free Methodist Church with Reverend Wayne D. Lawton officiating. Burial to follow at Rowley Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to Spring Arbor University 106 E Main St, Spring Arbor, MI 49283.

Arrangements under the direction of Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Williamston, MI.