CURTIS L. "Dike" ROSE passed away peacefully the 31st of July 2009 at the age of 96. He was born to Will Fritz Rose and Betty Roensch Rose on the 28th of January 1913 in La Grange, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, the late Hazel Cox Rose; his two brothers, the late A. W. Rose and Will Gray Rose; and two nephews James R. Rose and Alvin L. Rose. Curtis is survived by nieces, Gladys Rose, Carol Cox Grow and husband Sam W. Grow; Jean Scheetz, June Middebrooks, Aubrey (Lee) Rose, Ann Haygood, Betty Banks; his nephews, John W. Cox, David Rose, Larry Rose; great nephew and namesake, Curtis Wayne Rose. His family moved to Columbus, Texas where he played all sports and graduated from High School in 1927. Curtis received an Athletic Scholarship to Sam Houston State University where he was elected President of the Freshman Class and after graduation was inducted into the Hall of Honor. Curtis began his long coaching career at Milby High School in the Houston Independent School District. There he also met the love of his life, Hazel Cox, an English Teacher, and they were married on the 8th of June 1941 by Dr. Westmoreland of South Main Baptist Church. Hazel and Curtis were married 58 years when she passed away on the 5th of December 1999. World War II broke out and Curtis joined the US Navy on the 16th of November 1942 as an officer and went to Norfolk, Virginia. He was then was assigned to the Air Craft Carrier, USS Corregidor, and completed his service on the 16th of November 1945. At that time, he was able to complete his Masters Degree. Probably one of the happiest times of his life was when he was Head Coach at San Jacinto High School and got to work with not only fine athletes, but the finest young men who became the best life-long friends to the end. After coaching, he became Associate Athletic Director for HISD and retired in 1978 after 41 years. Curtis and Hazel became world travelers and loved to talk about the memories they shared on those many trips. He loved to garden and tended his backyard garden until he was 90. Golf was a hobby he took up late in life after retirement and played until he was 92. He was also very proud of his beautiful Red roses that he pampered every year. Curtis was a member of the Holland Lodge No. 1, the Shriners, and was inducted into the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Curtis and Hazel were long-time devoted members of Bethany United Methodist Church, where he ushered until he was 92. The family greatly appreciates the staff of Bayou Manor for their professional care. They also desire to extend a special thanks to his caregivers, Jackie Armstrong, Tyra Gregory, who stayed with him during Hurricane Ike, Maxine Lair, Tonya Coleman and Monica Njenga for their very loving care these last years. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 4th of August, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Funeral services will be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 5th of August, in the sanctuary of Bethany United Methodist Church, 3511 Linkwood in Houston, where the Rev. Dave Dinneen, will officiate. The interment will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale Avenue in Houston. Honored to serve as pallbearers are Alan Finger, Don Wilson, Dr. E.C. Musselwhite, Joe Tusa, Tally Melton and Jesy Martin. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Sturdevan, John Cox, Sam Grow, Jim Maracelli, Bailey Stone and Henry Sorell. In lieu of the usual remembrances, memorial donations in memory of Curtis L. Rose may be directed to Bethany United Methodist Church, 3511 Linkwood, Houston, TX 77025.

Published in Houston Chronicle on 8/2/2009