ROSE HALL MORGAN

MORGAN ROSE HALL MORGAN September 22, 1909 - November 2, 2015 And the oldest member-ever-of her assisted living community in Chevy Chase, died quietly on November 2, 2015 with her son Ronald at her side. Rose was born September 22, 1909 on a family farm in Elkhart, Indiana. It had no electricity or indoor plumbing. She lived long enough to go para-sailing behind an airplane in Mexico when she was in her 60s and on her 105th birthday to post photos of herself and her great grandchildren on her Facebook page. Rose's family left the farm when she was tiny and traipsed all over the Midwest before settling in Los Angeles, CA. There she met Francis, "Jack," Morgan, a young teller in a bank. They married in August 1929, moments before the Great Depression began. She was 19, he was 21. The Depression closed Jack's bank, and jobs became hard to find. Eventually Jack landed a Work Projects Administration job in Sacramento. For the next 50 years Rose and Jack lived there and raised their four children, two born before and two after World War II. During that war literally Rose became " "Rosie' the Riveter" when Jack, although not eligible to be drafted because he was 35 and a father, volunteered for the Marine Corps anyway. Rose supported his decision even though it meant that she had to go to work outside the home to put food on the table for their two young sons. During the day she worked as a secretary at her sons' school; at night she worked on a wartime assembly line at The American Can Company factory. Jack eventually rose to become Chief of Operations of California's Franchise Tax Board, and Rose, in addition to raising their children, became a successful artist who sold many of her oil paintings. In 1979 Rose and Jack celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Five years later Jack died at age 77 of congestive heart failure. On Rose's 90th birthday in 1999, her children "kidnapped" her and moved her to the East Coast where two of her sons, many grandchildren, and several great grandchildren lived. For the next 16 years she was able to enjoy being in the thick of their families. Rose outlived not only her husband but also their eldest son Bruce R. Morgan, and his wife Bette. She is survived by her second son Ronald D. Morgan and his wife Cappie, by her daughter Jacquelyn Morgan Granstra and her husband Rich, and by her son Richard L. Morgan and his wife Kris, as well as by 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at First Trinity/Saint Matthews Lutheran Church, 309 E St., N.W., Washington, DC. 20001. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rose's honor to Community Family Life Services, 305 E St., N.W., Washington, DC, 20001. CFLS supports inner-city Washington families rising from homelessness.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rose's honor to Community Family Life Services, 305 E St., N.W., Washington, DC, 20001. CFLS supports inner-city Washington families rising from homelessness.