Richard James Rose, of Downingtown, PA passed away on August 15, 2026, at the age of 83 after living with Alzheimer's for several years. He was born on July 15, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Herbert and Vera (Schuessler) Rose.

During the Vietnam era, Richard proudly served in the United States Army. He completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, before entering the U.S. Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in the summer of 1966. During his service he was decorated with the National Defense Service Medal and qualified as a Sharpshooter with the M-14 rifle.

Richard earned his Bachelor of Arts in Speech from Illinois College and went on to receive a Master of Business Administration from Sangamon State University in Springfield, Illinois. In the early 1970s, he returned to Illinois College to serve as registrar, where he met JoLynn Leach, his future wife.

His years in Jacksonville, Illinois shaped many of his passions. He worked at a local camera shop, sparking a love of photography that stayed with him always. A stint at a radio station marked the beginning of a lifelong love of radio. Throughout his life, Richard could just as easily be found absorbed in a story on NPR as singing along to his favorite “heavenly” country music.

A devoted sports fan, Richard remained ever loyal to his hometown St. Louis Cardinals. It was during his years in the Army that Richard first discovered sprint car racing, a lifelong passion he delighted in sharing with his wife, daughters, sons-in-law, and grandsons at the car races in Bechtelsville, PA.

Richard took great pride in having visited every U.S. state but Alaska during his years of business travel working in sales for Systems and Computer Technology Corporation (SCT), based in Malvern, PA, and no matter where he went, he never failed to send postcards home to 'J.W.' and his girls.

The son of a Lutheran minister, Richard carried his faith throughout his life and could often be found belting out hymns by heart in the pews of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Exton.

In his retirement years, Richard took great pride in serving for ten years as tipstaff to the Honorable John L. Hall at the Chester County Courthouse in West Chester, PA.

Richard is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Kristen (Rose) and Tom Robinson, and Beth (Rose) and Christophe Larouer; his grandchildren, Tommy Robinson, Charlie Robinson, Daphné Larouer and Ralph Larouer; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, JoLynn (Leach) Rose, in December 2023; his parents, Herbert and Vera Rose; his four brothers, Robert, Edward, Frederick, and Walter; and his sister, Eleanor (Rose) Siess.

Richard’s ashes will be buried alongside his wife, JoLynn, in Rochester Township Cemetery in Rochester, Illinois in late October.

In lieu of flowers, and in keeping with Richard's lifelong love of radio, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to WHYY (WHYY.org/support), Philadelphia's NPR station.