Rosamond Arlene Warfield

Rosamond Arline Warfield, 97, of San Rafael, California, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 20, 2025, at her home in San Rafael.

Rose was born February 1, 1928, to Clayton Brown Howe and Daisie Dean Winifred Howe, on the family farm in Lafayette County, Missouri. Her early childhood was shadowed by the difficult Dust Bowl and Great Depression years. Life was hard on the farm, but there would be a lot more to the story.

After graduating from Lexington High School, Rose became one of the first in her family to attend university, at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where she earned a degree in Library Science. There she met fellow student John Nelson Warfield, who became her lifetime companion. John and Rose were married in Columbia on February 2, 1948, beginning a journey together that lasted until his death in 2009.

She moved with John as he launched and continued his academic career. In 1948-1957 they were at Mizzou, Purdue, Penn State, and the University of Illinois. Eventually they settled in home territory near Kansas City.

In Lawrence, Kansas, Rose raised three children. She was active in the League of Women Voters, campaigning for full engagement with the democratic process and the end of racial segregation in public facilities. She was a regular on the local radio station, discussing politics and culture.

She was a Den Mother for Pack 52, and active in the PTA and other charitable and church groups. The family frequently visited her parents on the farm, which was a couple of hours away across the Missouri border.

She routinely hosted graduate students and professors who came from all over the world to study engineering with John. People from everywhere were welcome, and her home became a sort of mini-United Nations. Household decorations were gradually enhanced by exotic gifts from as far away as China, India, Israel, Africa and Europe.

After moving in 1966 to Columbus, Ohio, Rose continued her active role as a volunteer in scouts, schools and the church. After the children had grown, Rose and John moved to Charlottesville and then Annandale, Virginia. When John retired, the couple moved to the Clearwater, Florida, area and eventually to Sheffield, Alabama, near John's sister.

As John become prominent in his field, the couple became frequent visitors to academic conferences as far afield as China, India, Ghana, Mexico, and Greece, making new friends and continuing an incessant quest to learn more about the world and the diversity of humanity.

After John's death, Rose moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, near her son and grandson, then finally to San Rafael, near her daughter Nancy.

Rose was the last of Clayton and Daisie's children, preceded in death by her siblings: Wallace Howe, Maurice Howe, and Beverly Bondy. She is survived by her children Daniel, Nancy, and Thomas; her four grandchildren Bart, Sarah, Harry and Charlotte; and her four great-grandchildren Ben, Sabrina, Olivia and Asher.

Although she sometimes had other jobs, her true life's work was supporting John's research, writing, speaking, and educating. She was a constant and essential partner in the home office, helping with correspondence, manuscripts, record-keeping, publications, and speaking tours. Her persistent support helped to ensure his success.

Always a no-fuss person, Rose requested a private cremation. The family asks that any donations be made to the Rosamond Howe Warfield Scholarship Fund at https://formizzou.missouri.edu (in the "Designation" box, type in "Rosamond Howe Warfield Scholarship Fund"), or send a check payable to "University of Missouri" to Gift Processing, 407 Reynolds Alumni Center, Columbia, MO 65211.

Valley Memorial Park is assisting the family with arrangements.