Rose was born December 6, 1930 in Bemis, West Virginia, the youngest of the eight children of Asa Parker Ware and Ida Jane Smith Ware. At the time, Bemis was a small coal mining town that could only be accessed by train. After Rose was born, the family moved to Elkwater, WV. She attended a two-room schoolhouse through the 8th grade, and in 1948 graduated at the top of her class from Tygarts Valley High School.
She was a child of the Great Depression, when many jobless men rode the rails in search of work and food. Her mother would find tasks around the farm for them and then provide them with a hot meal. Her example taught young Rose about hospitality, generosity and compassion. There was always room at their table.
As her parents’ youngest child and seventh girl, Rose was affectionately called “Wild Rose” by her doting father. She often said her father taught her about unconditional love, “because he loved me, no matter what.”
On July 16, 1950, Rose married Nelson Spencer Channell, the tall, handsome, green-eyed neighbor who had recently returned from WWII. She liked him because he was wearing a United States Marine Corps uniform, and more importantly, “he had a car”. After the wedding, they moved to Detroit, MI, to begin their married life. Over the next three years they welcomed their first two children, Lois and Larry. Twenty years later, they were on the verge of becoming empty nesters, when Rose found out she was expecting her third child, Jason. Excited, but slightly overwhelmed, Rose cried out, “Oh, I just don’t know if I can survive piano lessons and no privacy in the restroom again!” She must have become accustomed to the joys of toddler-rearing, because three years later they welcomed their fourth child, Jennifer. Rose and Nelson often said that being older parents kept them young. They genuinely enjoyed many more years of piano recitals, band concerts, high school sports, and moving kids in and out of dorm rooms. Their four children and 13 grandchildren remained their greatest earthly joy throughout their 68 years of marriage.
At the center of Rose’s life was her faith in Jesus. She and Nelson were active members of the First United Methodist Church of St. Clair Shores, joining in 1955. Rose’s heart for service touched all ages, from the Cradle Roll to the care facility. She had leadership roles with Christian Women’s Club and the United Methodist Women, and she never stopped studying or evangelizing. She loved to mentor younger generations and fondly remembered her many years of teaching young mothers at Bible Study Fellowship. Rose and Nelson were strongly committed to preparing the next generation to fulfill Christ’s mandate to spread the gospel, also mentoring young pastors and their spouses. Over the years, they provided numerous scholarships to ministerial students at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Throughout her 92 years, she never lost her faith in Jesus. She remained faithful and strong until the end, taking care of Nelson through his struggle with dementia and enduring the untimely deaths of her two beloved boys. We find comfort in knowing that she was welcomed into Eternity hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Nelson, and her sons, Larry and Jason. She is survived by her daughters Lois Kilkka, of Charlotte, NC, and Jennifer Jackson (T.W.) of Las Cruces, NM; daughters-in-law Mariann Metes Channell (Benson Woo) of St. Clair Shores and Aimee Hillman Channell of Sterling Heights; granddaughters Lena (Thomas), Emma, Lydia, Grace, Deborah, Joanna and Lillia; and grandsons Spencer (Ele), Alex, Wesley (Karen), Hunter, Jacob and Caleb.
Arrangements are being handled by A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods. Visitation is Friday, September 15, from 4pm - 8pm at the funeral home. The Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 16, at 10:30am at Redeemer United Methodist Church, 20571 Vernier Rd., Harper Woods. In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to Asbury Theological Seminary (asburyseminary.edu/donate) or the American Heart Association (heart.org/donate).
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