Following a sudden illness, Rosa Aline Ward, of Winfield, Alabama, passed away peacefully in the Palliative Care Unit of UAB Hospital with her husband by her side.
Rosa was born June 21, 1951, in Franklin County to Kemper and Ima Glasgow. The daughter of a high school principal who had high academic expectations for his children, her childhood and most of her adult life revolved around education.
She attended schools in Vernon and Bear Creek. She graduated from Phillips High in 1969. At Phillips she was active on the annual staff and the cheerleading squad. Rosa attended Northwest Alabama Junior College and transferred to Auburn University where she was awarded a bachelor’s degree in education in 1973. In 1975, she earned a master’s in education from the University of Alabama.
Rosa taught business education classes at Vernon High, Brewer Vocational, Phil Campbell, Phillips, and Hackleburg schools for 25 years. She was a dedicated teacher who believed that a good education was the basis for a useful, independent, and happy life. She strived to enable her students to advance their education and to give them the skills and knowledge to get and keep good jobs. She was usually a senior sponsor and could be seen on many class trips and junior senior banquets. The annuals produced under her sponsorship were meticulously edited and laid out.
In 1992, after a whirlwind seven year romance, she married Gary. She changed from a city girl to a country girl. She learned to herd, feed, and doctor cattle. She taught Gary to use proper business accounting methods and together they developed Coffee Creek Farm into a successful cattle and timber enterprise. She was proud of the farm being a Treasure Forest and of the recognition for its conservation efforts. She hosted many family get-togethers and card parties at her home.
Rosa was a devoted and dedicated caregiver to her husband during his many illnesses. Together they traveled all over the world sightseeing, attending bluegrass festivals, Broadway musicals, shopping for antiques, and meeting new people. She especially loved taking grandnieces, Zoe and Natalie, to the Virginia Samford Theater. She loved babysitting, cooking, and swimming with Zoe.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Wayne Ward; her brother, Donald (Debbie) Glasgow, Huston, Texas; sisters, Ann Glasgow, Russellville, Alabama, and Susie (Terrell) Kirkpatrick, Arab, Alabama; and good friend, Brenda Boyette.
