Mr. Joseph “Heber” Rose, Sr. | Eastern NC Now

   Mr. Joseph “Heber” Rose, Sr., age 85, a resident of 1165 Little Creek Road Ext., Belhaven, died Saturday, January 19, 2013 at his home, surrounded by his family.

   Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at Union Grove Church of Christ, Hwy 99, Pantego, conducted by Scott Askew and Rupert Wallace. Burial will follow in Davis Cemetery.

   Mr. Rose’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers: Ron Sawyer, Clay Respess, Richie Sawyer, Artie VanderAa III, Charly Respess, Matthew Rose and Christopher Rose.

   Mr. Rose’s granddaughters will serve as honorary pallbearers: Shelly S. Wheeler, Christy Rose, Jodi Rose, Pearl VanderAa, Candace Rose, Cameron Elliott, and Ashley Chase.

   Mr. Rose was born in Beaufort County on September 23, 1927. He was the son of the late Joseph Solomon Rose and Lucinda Pearl Carter Rose. Mr. Rose owned and operated R & S 66 Service Station in Belhaven with his sons. He was one of the original directors of Pungo Christian Academy. Mr. Rose was a member of Union Grove Church of Christ where he served as an Elder and Deacon and the Pungo Ruritan Club. He loved baseball and shared his love of the sport with the community. Mr. Rose started Little League baseball in the Pungo community. He enjoyed coaching baseball and working with the youth. Mr. Rose loved witnessing for Christ, his family, working with his sons, and hosting family reunions. On June 6, 1951, Mr. Rose married the former Peggy Joyce Watson, who survives.

    Surviving with his wife are his children, Sally Respess and her husband, Keith of Bath, Deborah R. Sawyer and husband, Ronald of Kingsland, Ga., Joseph H. Rose, Jr. and wife, Rita of Belhaven, Terry R. VanderAa of Pungo, Christopher H. Rose of the home; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; sister, Mary Jane Rose Allen and her husband, Frank of Pungo; brother in law, Leonard Harris of Pungo; sister in law, Eva Rose of Summerfield, FL; and many nieces and nephews.

    In addition to his parents, Mr. Rose was preceded in death by a son in law, Arthur VanderAa, Jr.; two grandsons, Joseph Heber Rose III and Ryan Nicholas Sawyer; three brothers, Wesley Rose, Johnny Rose, and Parker Rose; and three sisters, Olive Allen, Alfra Etta Harris, and Ophelia Allen.

    The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday, January 21, 2013 at Union Grove Church of Christ, Hwy 99, Pantego and other times, 1165 Little Creek Road Ext., Belhaven.

    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Union Grove Church of Christ Youth Fund, 6889 NC 99 Hwy North, Pantego, N.C. 27860.

    Online condolences may be sent to www.paulfuneralhome.com Paul Funeral Home of Belhaven is honored to serve the Rose family.