> > Whitney Messenger July 1954 > Tom Rose, Oldest Resident, Dies Sun. > Tom E. Rose, 102, Hill County's oldest resident, died at the family > resident in the Huron community at 12:20 Sunday afternoon. > Funeral services were held from the Huron Church at 4:00 p.m. Monday, with > Rev. F. E. Well, Rev. A. W. Carmichael, and Rev. Fred F. DeVaney > officiating. Burial was in the Heath Cemetery. > Mr. Rose was born in Hardin County, Tenn., but came to Texas and settled in > Hill County in 1877. For 59 years, he had been a resident of the Huron > community and was a member of the Cedar Creek Baptist Church where he served > as a deacon for many years. He was also a member of the Whitney Masonic > Lodge. > Prior to her death on June 19, 1953, Mr. and Mrs. Rose were believed to be > the oldest living married couple in the United States. They celebrated > their 80th anniversary, starting with their 75th when they were honored at a > huge celebration in Whitney. At this celebration they received > congratulations from President Harry Truman. > "Uncle Tom" was widely known in this section and was a regular visitor in > Whitney until shortly before his death. Messenger issues in past years have > related many interesting stories related to the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Rose. > It will be recalled that they attended the golden wedding anniversary of a > son, thus setting what is probably another national record. > Survivors include one brother, Will Rose of Whitney, a sister, Mrs. Laura > DeGraffenreid of Whitney, five sons, H. E. and W. T. of Whitney, H. M. of > Morgan, C. F. and D. D. Rose of Purcell, Okla.; four daughters Mrs. J. W. > Jackson of Post, Mrs. T. A. Hendrex of Wichita Falls, Mrs. Cordia Farrar of > Guthrie, Okla. and Mrs. Jessie Connolly of Whitney; a number of > grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com