Rose Willard

WILLARD, Rose DeMilly, passed away September 23, 2004. Rose was born in Collins, Ga., on January 10, 1909 to Blanche and Louis DeMilly. She grew up in Lakeland and graduated from Lakeland High School and from the Florida State College for Women, now Florida State University. While in school in Tallahassee, she met Bert Willard, and they were married on May 15, 1932. Rose studied Library Science in the graduate school of the University of Florida and taught elementary school while she and Bert lived in Gainesville. In Tampa, she was the librarian at the Oak Grove Junior High School and Wilson Junior High School. Rose had two children, Marguerite Byars, of Tampa, and Charles Willard, of Pittsburgh; a daughter-in-law, Nancy Booth Willard; four grandchildren, Dave Byars, of Plant City, Diane Byars Finchum, of Tampa, Dan Byars, of Brandon, and Michel Jonathan Willard, of St. Cloud, Minn.; and five great-grand- children, David Byars, Amanda Byars, Matthew Byars, Jordan Finchum, and Peyton Finchum. In retirement, Rose continued to work until her move to Plant City. She volunteered in the libraries at Erwin Vocational School and Maniscalco Elementary School. She continued as the Church Librarian of Tampa First Presbyterian Church. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Plant City. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 2, 2004, at the Tampa First Presbyterian Church.