Donald Edward Rose

Donald Edward Rose, 86, of Gordonsville, Virginia, passed away on Friday, December 12, 2025.
Born on September 2, 1939, in Gatewood, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Patrick Harry Rose and Isabell Frances Rose. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers, Harry Alvin Rose and Bobby Lee Rose.
From the humblest of beginnings in Gatewood, Bozoo, and then Oak Hill West Virginia, Don enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 17, where he proudly served 3 years as a store clerk aboard the USS Springfield, a Guided Missile Cruiser assigned to the Atlantic Fleet.
While home on leave, Don met the love of his life, Shirley Ann Bragg, at Sunday morning church service in Oak Hill. Don strongly believed the best decision of his life was to bravely follow Shirley home after church, whereupon he had Sunday dinner with her family. Don and Shirley were married on 8 June 1959. Since that blessed day, they have been side-by-side, true companions and happily married for nearly 67 years.
Don’s most cherished treasure has always been his family. Born to a loving mother and father, Don treasured his two brothers Harry and Bobby, and his sister Carol. As the saying goes, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby carriage. Don and Shirley were eager to start a family of their own--and did they ever. Don was an exceptionally devoted father to his two children...Donna and Gary, a proud and constantly involved grandfather to eight grandchildren…Erin, Ethan, Lydia, Lisabeth, Madeline, Molly, Abigail, and Andrew. His grandchildren were his pride and joy. To them Don was a wonderful, loving, and caring man. You could always find him coaching, cheering, leading, and encouraging his grandchildren through their many successes--baseball, music, dance, football, volleyball, and horseback riding. Moreover, Don was a glowingly proud great-grandfather, and his bright legacy continues to shine through his great-grandchildren.
Following service to our Nation in the US Navy, Don began a thirty-four-year career with the supermarket chain Safeway, where he was assigned to stores in Alexandria, Louisa, and eventually retiring as store manager in Charlottesville Virginia. Earning the highly valued respect of his many co-workers, Don performed superbly as a leader and mentor, and forged many great, lifelong friendships with his fellow Safeway employees, both in the store and on the local softball fields while competing for his store’s team.
Don developed a close relationship with Shirley’s parents, Woodrow and Marion. In 1969, Marion promised Don and Shirley an acre of land if they would accompany them on a move to the Central Virginia region. Fortune certainly favors the bold. Don and Shirley teamed with Don’s in-laws and developed a beautiful 20+ acre gentlemen’s ranch in Thelma (Gordonsville) Virginia. Don and his father in-law worked tirelessly to construct, by their own hands, two beautiful homesites. Don would live and thrive here for the rest of his life. This property was a tremendous source of joy for Don. Here he provided in so many great ways for his ever-expanding family. Don also cultivated the land, developing and nearly perfecting one of his life’s great passions--gardening. His garden, which at times grew to more than an acre, produced harvests of a variety of delicious vegetables and fruits…corn, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, zucchini, squash, watermelon and strawberries.
Since 1981, Don has been a proud and active member of Mechanicsville Baptist Church in Gordonsville Virginia. A long-standing Deacon at Mechanicsville, Don actively employed his many talents, serving on a variety of committees with his beloved Church friends, ultimately serving as one of the church’s venerable Trustees. An avid sportsman, Don fulfilled the demanding and important role of pitcher--his resilient, accurate arm helped lead the Mechanicsville Men’s Softball Team to multiple church league championships. Always fond of music and the first to make a joyful noise, Don sang for many years with the Mechanicsville Adult Choir. Furthermore, Don received immeasurable joy by sharing stories, jokes and time with his close friends of the esteemed Mechanicsville Men’s Monday Morning Coffee Club.
A man of immense integrity, Don earned the respect and admiration of all who had the privilege to know him. From his service in the US Navy, to his work at Safeway and then also as a manager and mentor at Keswick School, Don proved to always be there for his family, friends, and for anyone who reached out in need. Without doubt, he lived his life filled with and driven by worthy purpose--Christian devotion, love for his country, passion for his family, care for his community, and compassion for his neighbor. To the end, Don maintained that beautiful yet mischievous twinkle in his eyes and that loving, gentle, pleasant smile. Our much-beloved sweet prince, Don Rose…son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, has flown with flights of Angels to his rest with our Savior Jesus Christ. He will be greatly missed by many.
Don is survived by his wife of nearly 67 years, Shirley Ann Rose; his children, Gary Edward Rose and Donna Ann Jones; his sister, Carol Rose-Ward; and his grandchildren, Erin Rose Jones, Ethan Wills Jones, Lydia Carter Jones, Lisabeth Martin Maderia, Madeline Meadows Stuart, Molly Frances Jones, Abigail Grace Jones, and Andrew Murray Jones. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Adalia Rose Aparicio-Jones, Juan Manuel “Manny” Aparicio-Jones, Leandro “Leo” Gael Aparicio-Jones, Liliana “Lily” Grace Aparicio-Jones, Gabriel Alexander Aparicio-Jones, Maeve Emeline Mikell, Ezequiel Eoin Maderia, Ezra Aindreas Maderia, Lucas James Stuart, Reid Edward Stuart, Jackson Murray Parr, and one more on the way.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the Mechanicsville Baptist Church in Gordonsville, Virginia. Burial and reception will follow immediately at the church. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the church.