Lloyd William Rose, 89, of Starkville, MS, passed away following a brief illness on April 17, 2024. He lived a long life full of faith, love, meaning and purpose. He touched many lives, and his legacy will live on through his beloved children and grandchildren.
Born on October 15, 1934, in Duck Hill, MS, Lloyd was raised in Winona. His father, a barber, died suddenly when Lloyd was a boy, leaving his mother to raise four children alone in the 1940’s. His family took in boarders to help make ends meet, with the children sleeping on the screened porch. His mother worked in the school cafeteria, and the family often ate school leftovers for dinner or cornbread with fresh goat’s milk. His job was stirring food coloring into lard, leading him to swear he would only have butter in his future.
These childhood experiences of family unity amid financial struggle were formative for him. He and his siblings were the first generation in the family to complete high school or attend college. His mother, a devoted Christian woman with an 8th grade education and unrealized dreams of being a nurse, was determined that her children would be educated. She succeeded, with all 4 of her children earning graduate and professional degrees.
Lloyd became a dentist. He initially was on the football team at the University of Mississippi, until labs to prepare for dental school conflicted with practice. He chose his education and future over football, watching games as he worked in the stadium. He did find time to be Vice President of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha.
During a summer term at Mississippi State University, he met Lynn Arden Savage, the love of his life, who he married while attending Dental School at the University of Tennessee. He served as a Captain in the Army at Fort Holabird in Baltimore, working weekends to pay off student loans at the docks pulling teeth for seafarers from all over the world. When his first daughter was born, and Lynn became homesick, he gave up his dream of traveling the world with the military, and the family settled in Starkville where he practiced dentistry for over 40 years and raised his family.
These early experiences shaped him into the man he was – a man of God – fiercely devoted to his family, determined to persevere against the odds, and motivated by ambition and drive to provide security for his family. He had natural empathy for those less fortunate and those who struggled, which led him to help others whenever opportunity presented. He was an Eagle Scout, and those who knew and loved him will attest that he lived by the principles that designation embodied. He was loyal and worthy of trust, hardworking and an example to all. He committed his energies to his church family, his profession, and his community. He loved to travel the world with Lynn, and he introduced this love to his children and grandchildren.
Without a doubt, his most important priority was always his family, and his most important roles were husband, daddy and granddaddy. What a blessing it was that he was able to join his whole family at his grandson’s wedding less than two months ago! Generous and focused on the needs of others, his deepest desire was for his family to love and support each other as he did.
He was committed to the profession of dentistry, serving as President of the Mississippi Dental Association and on the Select Committee of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry. He also served as Chairman of the State Board of Health. In addition to his private practice, he traveled to Central America several times to serve the people of Honduras in Christian dental missions
In addition to the practice of dentistry, he was a real estate developer and owner of Rose Properties and Colonial Arms Apartments. As a small business owner, he was committed to community development. He was Chairman of Leadership Starkville, President of the Oktibbeha Development Council, President of the Starkville Rotary Club, and Chairman of the United Way of North Central Mississippi.
He leaves to cherish his memory and each other his wife of 67 years, Lynn Rose, his daughters Rebecca Rose Morris, Beth Templeton, and Katie Guyton (David), as well as grandchildren Daniel Morris, William Morris (Haley), Anna Rose Templeton, Luke Templeton, Matthew Guyton, and Mary Arden Guyton Pillault (Noah). He is preceded in death and is joyfully joined in Glory by his mother, Hattie Rose Barnhill and his siblings Henry Calvin Rose, Dora Rose Herring, and James Frederick Rose.
The family would like to thank the many caregivers who have devoted themselves to lovingly caring for him in recent years, including Angela Jennings, Barbara Ward, Christine Clark, Dorothy Bell, Bonnie Smith and Angela Sherman.
Lloyd lived out his deep faith within the First Baptist Church community. The Empty Nester’s Sunday School class had a special place in his heart. Memorial gifts may be made to the Empty Nester’s Benevolent Fund at First Baptist Church.
Visitation will be at First Baptist Church of Starkville, MS at 9:30 on Monday, April 22, 2024, with funeral services at 11:00. There will be no graveside service.
