Rose S. Roberson

Rose S. Roberson, 90, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 17, 2010, surrounded by loved ones at her son’s home in Dunlap.

Preceded in death by her husband James, the Roberson’s were the owners/operators of Carriage Cleaners on Signal Mountain Road in Chattanooga for many years.

She was born in Rochester, New York, the daughter of the late Joseph and Joann DeBenedetto. She was among the first 500 women to join the newly created United States Navy Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill creating the service in 1942.

She met and married her late husband James, a United States Marine and native of Pikeville, in Washington, DC, where they were both assigned during the war.

Survivors include four children:  James S. (Carol) of Blairsville, Georgia; Gail Birch (Jeffrey) of Plymouth, Maine, Douglas (Terry) of Dunlap, and Gregory (Debra Goldblatt) of Chattanooga; 16 precious grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held June 21 at Lane Funeral Home with Father Mark Sholtz of Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church officiating.  Interment was in the Chattanooga National Ceme-tery with full military honors. Pallbearers were grandsons James Roberson, Tony Roberson, John Faison, and Preston Peavy; nephew Tally Glover, and great-grandson John Dunn.

Visit www.lanefh.com to share condolences.

Arrangements were made by Lane Funeral Home in Chattanooga.