James (Jim) Rose was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He will be sorely missed by the surviving members of his extended family, including Char, his wife of 27 years, siblings, Peggy Caughlin (Walt), Sue Laret (Jim), and Scott Rose (Jan). He was father to 3 children, Steven Rose (deceased) David Rose and Holly Richards (Brett). He was also a father to Char’s daughters, Renee Lindberg (TJ) and Rhonda Bender (AJ). He was a loving grandfather and great-grandfather.
Jim was born on June 7, 1944, in Philadelphia to William “Bill” and Margaret Jane Grieb. His father was an Army pilot in WWII, who was shot down on a bombing mission over Germany in May 1945 and was never privileged to meet his only son, Jimmy. Jim was raised by the loving Wilt and Grieb families. When Jim was 8 years old, he and his 5-year-old sister, Peggy, moved to Orinda, California with their mother, Jane, and their new father Elliott “Bill” Rose. Jim spent the next 10 years going to Orinda Grammar School, Pine Grove Jr. High, Miramontes High School where he graduated with honors. During this time, he played baseball extensively, earned an Eagle Scout and was Junior Class President. He also worked part time at Safeway stores, so that he could fund his interest in the old jalopy that he loved to work on.
Upon graduating from Miramontes, Jim spent a summer at Echo Lake in Tahoe working at Safeway and further expanding his interest in the great outdoors i.e., fishing, boating, hunting, camping, and hiking. These were activities that he had learned as a young boy in the Rose family, and that he would pursue the rest of his life.
Jim then went to Forest Grove, Oregon, to attend Pacific University for two years. He also worked for Safeway Stores part time at first and then full time as Assistant Store Manager prior to joining the Army during the Vietnam Conflict in 1968.
After joining the Army, Jim immediately tested to become a pilot so he could go to flight school to fly Huey (UH-1) helicopters. While in Vietnam he flew many combat missions as a Huey pilot. As a testament to his bravery and skill (and luck) Jim led an emergency resupply mission to support American troops in contact with the enemy in the pitch dark. The mission was a success despite taking heavy enemy fire and for this heroic action, Jim would earn the Distinguished Flying Cross – one of our Nation’s highest military honors.
Following Vietnam, Jim would earn his college degree and ultimately rise to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) while serving 30 years on active duty with assignments around the globe in places like Germany, Korea, and Fort Ord, California, before his final assignment at Fort Huachuca as an instructor pilot in Sierra Vista, Arizona, where he met Char, the love of his life.
Jim’s leadership, organizational skills, and experience as a pilot – first in helicopters, then in fixed wing aircraft – made him an ideal candidate to continue his service to our Nation as the civilian airfield manager at Fort Huachuca for many years. Throughout his career and after retirement, he loved to travel around the world. But as he grew older, Jim especially loved spending time with his family.
Jim/Jimmy/James passed away unexpectedly on February 16, 2025 at his home in Mesa, AZ. Because of the suddenness of his death his family and friends were completely unprepared and are devastated. We are all still processing our loss and its extent.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, April 17, at 2:00 pm at Bunker University Chapel at 3529 East University Drive, Mesa, AZ 85213.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association scholarship program administered through the Army Aviation Association of America: https://quad-a.ejoinme.org/MyPages/DonationPage/tabid/224843/Default.aspx
To Send a check: Make Check Payable to AAAASFI, In the memo section, input “VHPA-IHO James Rose”
Mail to:
AAAASFI
593 Main Street
Monroe, CT 06468
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, https://bunkerfuneral.com . Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
Rest in peace Jim!❤️