Delbert R. Rose's Obituary
Delbert R. Rose was born on a farm near Corunna, Michigan, on September 17, 1912, to Roy R. Rose and Margie K. Gerardy Rose, the third of eight children.?áHe held degrees from Cleveland Bible Institute (now Malone College), John Fletcher College, and the University of Iowa (MA and PhD).?áHe did graduate studies in several seminaries.?áHe was ordained in The Evangelical United Brethren Church, which today is part of The United Methodist Church in which he held ministerial credentials.?áHe served pastorates in Iowa and Michigan, and as an evangelist throughout the United States and Canada. Dr. Rose was co-founder of Western Evangelical Seminary (now merged with George Fox University of Newberg, OR) and of Wesley Biblical Seminary (Jackson, MS).?áHe also taught at Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, KY) for 23 years.?áHe authored Vital Holiness:?áA Theology of Christian Experience, as well as Bible study guides, along with numerous contributions to religious journals and magazines. In 1936, Delbert married Dorothy Walter of Owosso, MI.?áShe passed away on July 24, 1985.?áThey had four children.?áDelbert, is survived by three children:?áDaniel (married to Martha Denmead and living in Philadelphia, PA), Marilyn (married to Ron Smiley and living in Seaside, OR), and W. David (Ft. Myers, FL) as well as 4 grandchildren:?áJeff Smiley, married to Alison and living in Issaquah, WA, with their children Luke, Madison and Jack; Julianne Smiley Spaulding, married to Tad and living in Fishers, IN, with their children Alex, Makenzie, Morgan, Chloe, Noah and Landon; Meredith Rose, married to Adam Fries of CO, with their children Sol and Diego;?áEmma Rose, married to Neil Geyette, with their daughter Lucia, of Philadelphia, PA.?á In 1986, Delbert married Susan A. Schultz.?áThey retired to Shell Point from Jackson, MS, in 1993.?áOnce on the island, they continued to spend time traveling to mission fields and doing volunteer service.?áDelbert taught and Susan did library service in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, India, Kenya, Philippines and Nigeria. They both received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Wesleyan Theological Society Lifetime Achievement Award from Wesley Biblical Seminary.?áSue passed away July 19, 2011, just months short of her 100th birthday.?áDelbert is survived by his sister-in-law Elizabeth K. Schultz of Shell Point; his sister Letah Simpson of Frankfort, IN; and sisters-in-law Bernice Rose of Owosso, MI; Betty Rose of Waterford, MI; and Marica Walter of Acworth, GA; as well as his four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be sent to: The Village Church, 15100 Shell Point Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33908-1695. Phone: (239) 454-2147 or Wesley Biblical Seminary, 787 East Northside Drive, Jackson, MS 39206-4945 Phone: (601) 366-8880
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