ForeverMissed
Large image
His Life

Life Celebration

October 25, 2013

An inspiration for many and an entertainer at heart; Ron lived a lifetime of song, passion, integrity, and genuine authenticity. The life of Rupert Ronald Rose will be celebrated on October 30, 2013 from 1:00 – 3:00pm at Montana Health and Fitness Community Center (Resort Course Genoa Lakes) 468 Mountain Meadows Dr. Genoa, NV 89411.  He will be greatly missed.

Grandpa Rootbeer

October 24, 2013

"Toots" became Grandma Tootsie Roll once the first few of their 13 grandchildren could speak.  Listening to Grandma yell down the hall to "Rupe" again and again, soon lent itself to Grandpa Rootbeer, sounding exactly the same to young ears.  They truly were the sweetest pair any of their 13 grandkids would ever know. Christmases, ice skating parties, enormous sleepovers and family camp trips are magical memories they built together, inspiring each of their grandchildren to model their families in such a way. 

Tahoe

October 24, 2013

Harvey gave Ron the reliable work he'd hoped for as he and Toots continued to grow their family.  As they moved, Toots was pregnant with their second son, and final addition, David Allen. The hard winters in Tahoe were no match for Toots who had grown up in a working Ohio family and knew how to take care of herself.  She continued to chop wood, plan around a tight budget, and shovel endless snow. Ron worked countless nights at the casino, a star in South Lake Tahoe.  

Ron's tunes at Top of the Wheel drew crowds from all over.  Jazz lovers and young professionals from San Francisco and Sacramento would drive all night to come hear him play and dance well into the night.  Throughout his 43 years at Harvey's, he would rub shoulders, play music and often host family dinners for talents coming through the South Lake Tahoe area, from BB King, Liberace, and Jay Leno, to name a small few.  A local living legend, Ron Rose released three albums during his career among many single recordings and traveling from coast to coast sharing his love of melody and jazz.

The Rose family gained the reputation as a stronghold in the small Tahoe community.  Always enough food to spare, family dinners created a community and family gatherings were common place. Ron's many nights away from his family brought them closer together, an unintended representation of Ron.  He loved bringing people together.  Whether through song or through family, Ron would often sit in a chair and tilt his head back with a childish smile in awe- mouth slightly open and the corners of his lips turned up- to watch the chaos of love, life and laughter unfold before him.  It became clear in his later years that this was his true masterpiece. 

Early Life

October 24, 2013

Ron learned to play the piano under his grandmother's and uncle Bud's guidance.  Uncle Bud was his biggest influence and at the age of four, Ron was already memorizing melodies. Jazz was hot and Ron took to it quickly.  Before ever learning to read music, young Ron became an expert at his trade, rising to local fame by his teens and playing at every town gathering from dances to roller rinks. 
 
It was at these gatherings where he'd soon meet the love of his life, a petit blonde with a strong will to dance, Dorothy Louise Palmer. He'd later learn her strong will was a powerful force he would rely on to build a life and family together.  

They were married in the Summer of 1950 in Warren, Ohio. They were blessed with the birth of their first daughter, Sandra Lee, in June of 1951.  One year later, they gave birth to their second daughter, Rhonda Jean. Ron was playing gigs in the Ohio area and anywhere else he could to provide for his family such as Virginia Beach and Biloxi. While in Ohio, their first born son, Jeffrey Scott, was born. Soon to follow was their third daughter, Lynda Jo. 

In 1958 Ron was invited to play at North Lake Tahoe at the North Shore Club. Upon arrival, Ron suspected his life would take a new turn.  In the fall of 1958  he walked in to Harvey's Lake Tahoe Casino where he played a tune for Bill Ledbetter, Harvey's son-in-law.  He was hired on the spot and returned to Ohio to prepare his family for a move West.