Cecil Rose Jr., 69, passed away at his home in Cary, North Carolina on May 14th. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil Rose Sr. and Ruth Backus Rose, and his stepmother, Jeannette Wright Rose.
He is survived by his loving wife, Carol; sons, Tom Welliver (Lisa) and Aaron Welliver (Antoinette); grandchildren, Keila Welliver, Noel Welliver, Aaron Welliver Jr., Audrey Welliver, and Anthony Welliver; brothers, Charles Rose (Edna), George Rose (Carolyn), and John Rose (Laurie); nephew, Charles Rose; and nieces, Sara Rose and Mary Rose.
Cecil was born March 28, 1946, in Sheffield. As a youth he was active in Boy Scouts, enjoyed singing in the choirs at the Sheffield First United Methodist Church, performed on the cornet and French horn in the Sheffield High School Band, and played tackle on the football team. He was a National Merit Scholarship finalist, attended Boys State, where he was elected as attorney general, and graduated from Sheffield High in 1964 as valedictorian.
Like his father before him, he was a proud member of the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech (VPI). After earning his B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering there in 1968, he entered the Air Force, attaining the rank of captain and earning his master’s degree in computer science from the University of Southern California.
After the service, he lived in the Los Angeles, California, area where he met his wife, Carol. Like his brother George, Cecil was a Jeopardy champion, winning his first two appearances on the popular TV quiz show. He was also a member of Mensa, the high IQ society.
After living many years in California, Cecil and his family relocated to Cary, North Carolina, where he was employed in the Department of State Treasurer. Throughout their time together, Cecil and Carol enjoyed traveling around the country, seeing new sights, visiting old friends and relatives, and sometimes arriving days late at their destination because Cecil decided to explore some intriguing byway that caught his attention.
He is remembered by his family as a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother and by his friends for his keen intellect and good spirits.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. in the parlor of Colonial Baptist Church in Cary, North Carolina.
An online guest book can be signed at ApexFuneral.net.
