Abb Rose, 86, rancher and businessman, died Monday, Feb. 1 in New Braunfels. He was born Nov. 22, 1923 in Del Rio to Mr. and Mrs. Pat Rose, Sr. Rose's grandfather, Abb Martin Rose, moved to Del Rio with his family in 1888. The Roses were one of the first ranching families in Val Verde County and founding members of the First United Methodist Church of Del Rio. After graduating from Del Rio High School in 1941, Rose attended Texas A&M, where he was a member of the rodeo team.
In 1942, he left A&M and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, serving in the Atlantic during World War II. During training in Boston, Mass., his unit assisted in the recovery of the victims of the devastating Coconut Grove nightclub fire where 490 perished. His unit was then assigned to the ice-breaker Comanche in the North Atlantic when the U.S. troop ship Dorchester was torpedoed by a German submarine. The Comanche assisted in the rescue of the few survivors. In 1943, his unit was assigned to the newly commissioned USS Peterson. The Peterson operated as an escort for convoys carrying U.S. troops, cargo and tankers to the war raging in Europe. Thirteen round trips were made across the Atlantic before the Peterson sailed through the Panama Canal and on to Pearl Harbor in the Pacific. Rose was discharged in 1945 and awarded a World War II Victory Medal, European-African-American-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. Following the war, Rose moved back to Del Rio where he ranched in Val Verde, Kinney and Terrell County.
In 1970, he moved to Mexico where he lived for three years settling the estate of a deceased uncle. Upon returning to Del Rio, Rose owned and operated a boat business before returning to ranching.
Abb Rose was preceded in death by two sons, James Edward Rose and Bill Rose, and his brother, Pat Rose Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Clara Christians Rose of New Braunfels, daughter Linda Rose Hopkins and son-in-law Roger Hopkins of New Braunfels, and seven grandchildren, Shannon Hopkins Work and husband Chris Work of Houston, Kim Hopkins Cauthorn and husband Sid Cauthorn of Del Rio, Jill Rose of New Braunfels, Nan Rose Chandler and husband Joe Chandler of Houston, R.E. Hopkins and wife Karen Hopkins of New Braunfels, Amy Rose of Houston, and Mindy Rose Cox and husband Jim Cox of Midland.
He is also survived by daughter-in-law Jan Rose of Midland and sixteen great-grandchildren, Abb, Hattie and Mills Cauthorn; Jordan, Abby and Patrick Work; Ray den and Alarie Richter; Hay den and Rylan Millar; Bill, Charlie, Kate and Clair Chandler; Will Hopkins; and Avery Cox.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010, 5 to 9 p.m., at G. W. Cox Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside rites will be held Thursday, Feb. 4, 10:30 a.m. at Westlawn Cemetery with Reverend Richard Young presiding. The U.S. Navy Honor Guard will provide military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to First United Methodist Church of Del Rio or the West Texas Boys Ranch.
Funeral arrangements with G. W. Cox Memorial Funeral Home, of Del Rio LTD, 114 Fletcher Drive, Del Rio, Texas. 78840 , 830.775.2000.