Allan Lathrop "Al" Rose

Allan Lathrop "Al" Rose, 93, of Bolton, died Thursday, March 19, 2009, at Manchester Memorial Hospital in Manchester.

He was born Dec. 15, 1915, in Willimantic, the son of Wilton and Hattie (Vallette) Rose, and was raised on a farm in Coventry. He graduated from Windham High School and proudly served his country during World War II as a radio operator in the U.S. Navy on a LST transport in the South Pacific and received the radio message of FDR's death. He moved to Bolton in 1947 with his beloved wife, Sally, his high school sweetheart, where they raised five daughters over their 53 years of marriage. Al was a retired machinist and was an avid Red Sox and UConn women's basketball fan.

Al is survived by his daughters, Marilyn Matthews and her husband, Charles, of Union, W.Va., Judy Rose of Manchester, Joanne Zak of Bolton, Alana Grose and her husband, Rodger, of Ballston Lake, N.Y., and Carole Werkhoven and her husband, Dale, of Eastford. His extended family includes 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Louise Rose of Coventry; and many nieces and nephews. Al also had many dear friends from his years growing up in Coventry and in his military service, and was especially close to his two "adopted" sons, Jack Smart and Patrick Sklenar.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Coventry, 1171 Main St., Coventry. Burial with military honors will be private in the Bolton Center Cemetery in Bolton.

There are no calling hours.

Donations in Al's honor may be made to the Allan and Sally Rose Scholarship, c/o Bolton Scholarship Foundation, Bolton High School, 72 Brandy St., Bolton, CT 06043.

The Holmes Funeral Home in Manchester has care of arrangements.

To sign the online guestbook, please visit

www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com

Al will be dearly missed by his daughters, their families, and friends, but we take great comfort in the knowledge that he is finally reunited with his beloved Sally, and will rest in peace with her.