Paul E. Rose

Paul Edward Rose died Feb. 18, 2004, at home after an extended illness. He was a native of Tennessee, born in Mingo Holler, near the Cumberland Gap, on Feb. 25, 1913.He has been living in Florence, Ala., at the home of his grandson, Michael Losey, for the past year. He lived in California for 50 years with his wife, Rubye Blevins Rose, who performed on WLS radio in Chicago as Patsy Montana. Mr. Rose left his Tennessee mountain home in 1930 to become a road show manager for WLS. He and Patsy met while working together and married July 3, 1934. She died May 3, 1996, shortly before being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. They had traveled the world due to their involvement in the music business and leave many friends the world over.Mr. Rose served with distinction in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific theater, being among the first troops in Japan after the atomic bombs were dropped. He was responsible for many USO shows for the troops in Japan and China.He is predeceased by his wife of nearly 62 years, Rubye Blevins Rose, a.k.a. Patsy Montana; a daughter, Judith Rochelle Rose; two brothers; two sisters; and his parents, James E. and Cordelia Ingle Rose.He is survived by a daughter, Beverly Losey, of Florence; three granddaughters, Pam Losey, of Olive Branch, Miss., Patti Linnett, of Redondo Beach, Calif., and Christy Freerks, of Lake Forest, Calif.; and one grandson, Michael Losey and wife, Judi, of Florence. He also leaves seven great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.He will be remembered by all for his warm sense of humor and generosity and his many stories of the early days of radio and adventures in Prohibition-era Chicago, with his pals, Gene Autry, Pat Buttram and Smiley Burnette.Special thanks to Dr. Stephen Collier and the staff at ECM Pulmonary Unit for their kindness, compassion and professionalism.In lieu of flowers, make donations to the charity of your choice.A private memorial service will be at Riverside National Cemetery in California.Greenhill Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.