Rose Bridges

Rose H. Bridges slipped off to join her loved ones peacefully in her sleep Saturday, May 7, 2022 at her home. Born July 15, 1929 in the Goucher Community of Cherokee County, SC she was the daughter of the late John Harrison and Minnie Jane Gibbs Henderson and was the wife of the late Talmadge Scott Bridges.

Known as Mom, Nana, Big Ma, Nana Rose and Mama Rose, her given name was Jenny Rose but she was called Rose by her parents. Rose was delivered at home by an older sister, Ocie Mathis.

Graduating from Cowpens High School in May 1946, Rose eloped with Talmadge Bridges July 8, and was married for 48 years. Rose is predeceased by her husband, Talmadge, her daughter, Janice V. Koch, and son-in-law, Frank Ventresca. Rose was the last surviving member of her family, predeceased by Irene Miller, Ocie Mathis, Horace Henderson, Fletcher Henderson, Ruth Ellen Henderson, Ray Henderson, Pearl McIntyre, Virginia Harmon, Nellie Horne, Gene Henderson, nieces, and nephews.

After moving to Catasauqua, PA, Rose worked for Western Electric/Bell Laboratories, retiring after 20 years. Rose was Southern Baptist and a former member of Bethlehem Baptist and Allentown Baptist churches.

An excellent seamstress, Rose made clothes for her family for years. Her cooking was beyond compare and no one ever left her home hungry. If you were lucky, you took a sweet potato pie home.

Rose and Tal missed their country music and wound up forming The Carolina Ramblers, playing guitars, and singing for years with their Southern friends.

Rose was active as a Lifetime Member of the American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor, her husband’s WWII POW group and for 20 years, they traveled several times a year all over the country to his POW conventions. Her trip of a lifetime came in December 2016 as part of the POW/Friendship Program when she was invited to Japan for two weeks as a guest of the Japanese Government.

Survivors include her daughters, Deborah J. Bridges and Mona Denise Woodring (David), son-in-law, Lee P. Koch, Sr., her grandchildren, Lee P. Koch, Jr., Christina J. Monahan and Christopher P. Garner, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, her beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation will be 1:00 – 2:15 pm Sunday, May 15, 2022 at Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29307. A Funeral service will be at 2:30 pm at the chapel, conducted by The Rev. Roy N. Mathis.

Miss Rose would love for you to feed someone, please donate to your local food bank, she fed people all her life! She loved the color red, wear it in her honor please. I wonder if Dad has built enough closets for Mom’s treasures.

Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel