Pinellas Park, FL – Roswell LaDue Rossman, 96, of Pinellas Park, Florida passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at Palm Gardens of Largo. Born on April 19, 1920 in Clinton Corners, NY, he was the son of the late Walter & Ida LaDue Rossman.
He graduated from Pine Plains High School in 1938. He served in the U. S. Army from January, 1942 to October,1945. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army artillery throughout North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. He was granted an Honorable Discharge having attained the rank of Sergeant. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart for injuries during the Anzio beachhead assault on Italy. He later returned to duty in the battle of the Bulge in Germany. He was a member of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.
On October 26, 1947 he married Roberta Northrup of Pine Plains who predeceased him on February 4, 2013.
He was employed at Bower Memorials in Pleasant Valley as a monument engraver until his retirement in 1985. He was also self-employed as a salesman and engraver of family memorials and industrial lettering in Hyde Park, NY. After retiring from the monument business, he delivered for Craig Dental Lab until his move to Florida in 1989.
He was predeceased by his brothers, Ralph and Rodney Rossman; and sisters, Mabel and Harriet Rossman, and Frances Stump; and niece, Judith Crouse.
He is survived by his two daughters, Sandra Norton and husband, William, of Pleasant Valley, and Carol Grimes and husband, Everett, of Federal Way, Washington; three grandsons, Chad Norton and wife, Gina-Marie of Cumberland, RI, Christopher Norton and wife, Deanne, of Hyde Park, and Jourdan Matthews and his fiancée, Natasha Ovsepyan, of New Port Richey, FL; great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Riley, Avery, Allie, Alana, Jack, Arthur, and Ava. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
He was a life member of the American Legion Post #104 and the Military Order of the John F. Kennedy Purple Heart Chapter #1963. He also was a life-member of the Northern Dutchess Rod & Gun Club in Rhinebeck, NY. He loved to go hunting and fishing since he was a boy with his brothers and nephews. He became a golfer and a golf fan later in life and enjoyed playing any course no matter what he scored. He watched golf tournaments on TV and got to know the names of all the men and women golfers. His pride and joy was a 1973 Ford Thunderbird that he kept for 25 years. He entered it in many car shows and won many awards for Best Classic car without restoration. He became an avid Tampa Bay Rays fan and enjoyed going to the games or watching them on TV. He enjoyed going on many cruises with his wife including Hawaii, Alaska, the Panama Canal, and several Caribbean islands. He also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Canada in his motorhome.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Hyde Park.
Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 pm, Friday, May 13th at 4365 Albany Post Rd, Rte. 9, Hyde Park.
Graveside services and burial with military honors will be at 10 am, Saturday, May 14th at the Upton Lake Cemetery, Salt Point Turnpike, Clinton Corners.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, PO Box 207, 374 Temple Hill Road., Vails Gate, NY 12504-0207, or, Suncoast Hospice Foundation, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760-9962.
