William "Bill" Rosser II

Melbourne

Retired Lt. Col. William E. Rosser II, 88, passed away Monday, November 25, 2013 at his home with his loving wife, Eleanor by his side. The son of William E. Rosser Sr. and Martha Rosser, he was born in Masury, OH, and moved to Brevard County in 1978 following a distinguished Military career.

Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served on bombers during World War II. Following the war, Bill earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Youngstown College in Ohio and in 1950 returned to the U.S. Air Force as an officer. Bill continued his Air Force service throughout the Korean War, and into the Vietnam War as a Master Combat Systems/Electronics Warfare Officer, flying in B-52 bombers. After almost 28 years of service, Lt. Colonel Rosser honorably retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1975 as a highly decorated veteran of three wars. His medals include the Distinguished Flying Cross (two awards), Bronze Star, Air Medal (ten awards), Air Force Commendation Medal (two awards), among many others.

Bill is survived by his wife, Eleanor “Ellie” Rosser; five children, James, William III, John, and Vicki Rosser, and Nancy Zevgolis; five step-children, Steven, Matthew, and Mark Ripley, Deborah Crossley, and Linda Seidel; fourteen grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 from 11:00-12:00 at the Life Event Center at Florida Memorial, with a funeral service following at noon. Inurnment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Hospice of St. Francis, 1250 Grumman Place, Titusville, FL 32780, in memory of William E. Rosser II.