Submitted by: Dan Rich

Gene Roose

May 30, 1937 - Sept. 1, 2008

South Bend Tribune 9/5/2008
MISHAWAKA - My loving husband, Gene died in Ruidoso, NM on Monday, September 1, 2008, at the age of 71. He was born on May 30, 1937, in Mishawaka, Indiana to Theodore and Bea Roose. Upon graduating from Mishawaka High School in 1955, he attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and was then commissioned into the United States Air Force, where he served for 22 years. He then held the Position of Director of Support Operations for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the McDonnell Douglas Corp. We spent 49 wonderful years together traveling the world, meeting new people, and sharing the military way of life with our daughters, Wendy and Kelley. After retiring, he pursued his life-long dream of being a rancher and established the R Bar T Ranch where he spent countless hours tending to the cattle and the land; he loved being outdoors and working with his hands. After several successful years of ranching he decided it was time to enjoy retirement. This led to another chapter in our lives where Gene could often be found at our cabin in Ruidoso enjoying the deck views, visiting with friends, or cruising on his trike through the mountains with his son-in-law Buddy. He was a life-member of VFW Post 3280 and a member of the Elks Lodge #1244, where he enjoyed visiting with his buddies and sharing stories of the past. Gene was a quiet man, who was happy with his place in life - one could often hear him saying "life is good". Always a devoted husband, a loving father, and a positive role model to his grandchildren, Travis, Jarrel, and Madison, he will be greatly missed but the memories will forever be in our hearts. Gene was an honorable man, true to his word and a proud American. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Sandy; two daughters, Wendy (Buddy) Hubby, and Kelley Price; three grandchildren, Travis, Jarrel, and Madison; a step-mother, Betty Roose; a step-sister, Karen Wittman; a niece, Shelley Shelley; and a nephew Matthew Priser.