Dorothy Ann Rose peacefully passed on January 5, 2022, age 95, at her home in Florissant, Missouri.  Born on October 24, 1926, in Saint Louis, Missouri, to the parents of Claude E. Allen and Liza Allen; younger sister to Gladys Allen (Russell); mother to Calvin, Gerald and Richard Rose; grandmother to Katie, Jesse, Paige and Elizabeth.

Early in her life, she worked as a secretary for Otis Elevator Company.  She married Bertis C. Rose in St. Louis in the early 1950’s and moved with him to California where he was stationed in the Air Force. Later, she fondly reminisced about her time working as a secretary/receptionist for a prestigious real estate firm in California. As a mother, she stopped working to attend to the needs of her family and serve as Den Mother in Hazelwood, Missouri.

However, after an unexpected and devastating divorce in the late 1960’s, she was faced with the impossible task of raising and providing for three boys on her own.  Against all odds, she met the challenge when she courageously rejoined the workforce.  She started out as a secretary for McDonnel Douglas/Boeing; over time, she rose up through the ranks to become a supervisor. As supervisor, Dorothy was tasked with developing manuals for pilots of fighter jets during the Vietnam War.   

Dorothy was a pioneer in the women’s movement of the 1960’s, but she didn’t know she was contributing to the effort.  She didn’t make speeches nor did she attend rallies or protest.  What she did was provide for her family in a world where the odds were stacked against women.  Later in life when asked if she was proud of what she had achieved under such adverse conditions, she simply stated she just did what had to be done.    

After retirement, Dorothy enthusiastically volunteered for food banks and several other charities. She relished traveling with friends. Dorothy enjoyed her trip to Mexico so much, she later learned Spanish. As a proud member of the Zion United Church of Christ, singing in the choir brought great joy to her heart. Dorothy valued her membership in The Red Hat Society and Kappa Phi. She was a devoted mother and grandmother to her extended family and treasured her later years surrounded by their love.