Rufus Edwards Rose Jr.

He lived the life of a Navy Junior and was commissioned from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954. He qualified in submarines and served in the Atlantic Fleet and Mediterranean during Cold War operations.

Rufus married Patricia Gregory in 1955, and they had three children – Debbie, Eddie, and Jennifer. As a family they enjoyed yearly trips to various state parks, usually followed by a trip to Granny Kit’s in Virginia Beach.

In 1987, Rufus earned his doctorate from Florida State University and retired from combined Naval and federal service.

He was a volunteer with the National Park Service, involved with Earth Watch and other tropical programs, a qualified Spanish interpreter, a life member of the International Youth Hostel Federation, and an avid birder.

Rufus traveled extensively. He was able to go on several trips to help translate for dental missions in Costa Rica, and he did “turtle tagging” and research of Leatherback turtles in Costa Rica. His other travels took him to Switzerland and England, Ecuador, the Galapagos, Peru, Columbia, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago.

In 1996 he married Merilu Sands and they enjoyed almost 25 years together. They traveled all over, often looking for a new bird to check off their list.

Rufus is predeceased by his wife Merilu Rose. He is survived by his children Debbie Williams and her husband Jack, Ed Rose and his wife Pam, Jennifer Dodrill and her husband Eddie, and stepdaughter Robin Patera and her husband Pete, and grandchildren Stephanie and Charles, Justin and Claire, Seth and Nathan, Jacob and Selina, Kenny and Aryn, Jared, Rachel, Erin, Michael and Brandi, and Destyn and Hayley. Rufus also has two great granddaughters Charlotte and Brooklyn, and 3 great grandsons Rylan, Allen, and Waylon.

The family would also like to thank Brown Senior Care for their exceptional loving and compassionate care of Rufus.