ABOUT

Gerald Rose was born in 1914 in Montrose, Colorado and spent his early years in the Colorado mountains.  He graduated from Eagle high school and soon after moved to the front range to Wheatridge, Co.  He married Virginia Shook, from Applewood, CO in 1939 and started his honey business that same year. Gerald was a volunteer fireman for Wheatridge for many years. He also processed and sold his product from their home in Wheatridge, until they retired and returned to the Western Slope in 1976. 

 

Virginia worked in and then managed the service department of Montgomery Wards appliance division until her early retirement, due to her lose of sight.

 

They moved to Eagle in 1976 and started a very active retirement. Gerald was involved in doing fire inspections and fire training at CMC. He also assisted senior citizens doing LEAP applications for federal assistance for reduced utility bills, and committed the funds to build a daycare center in the Methodist Church. Virginia cooked at the senior center, taught reading in the county jail and became involved in many church activities.

 

After Gerald's death in 1997 Virginia moved into the town of Eagle so she could be close to the senior center and the Methodist Church. She became involved in even more activities within the community and could rarely be found at home.  Prior to her death in 2010 she decided she wanted to help the youth of Western Eagle County by establishing a fund to help students who needed financial support gain a higher education or trade. Each year since 2010 the Gerald and Virginia Rose Foundation has awarded financial support to a growing list of students in Western Eagle County.