Walter H. Rosch, Sr.
Walter H. Rosch of Oakton, Virginia died peacefully on May 1, 2016 at his home. Beloved husband of the late Wilma Fox Rosch; father of Walter H. Rosch, Jr. and John R. Rosch (Barbara); grandfather of Jon-Michael Rosch )Gina) and Katherine Rosch Lee (Randy); and great-grandfather of Della, Dylan, Bremen and Bennett.
Walter Herman Rosch was born to Hans E. Rosch and Kathryn Marie Roland
in Victoria, Virginia on February 17, 1922. He had one older brother, William
(Bill) Rosch, who was also born in Victoria. Walt's father worked for the
Virginia Railroad as a mechanic and when the railroad went on strike the
family moved to Camp Bello, Florida. A hurricane devastated the area in 1926, and the family returned to Victoria where Walt attended early grades. This was during the depression and there was very little work in Victoria for Walt's Dad, who worked as an auto-mechanic. Seeking work, the family moved to Washington, DC, and then moved back to Richmond where his Dad worked for the Continental Baking Company. Walt continued in school, eventually attending, and graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School (TJ).
Walt went to his first and second year of college at the VPI extension in Richmond while working at the Continental Baking Company cleaning and greasing baking pans.
Following his brother, Bill who graduated from VPI in 1942, Walt finished his 3rd and 4th years of college at VPI in Blacksburg, majoring in Chemical Engineering and graduated from there in 1944. While at VPI, he met Wilma Fox who was also attending VPI, and they were married in Fairfax, Virginia on December 28, 1944 in a snow storm.
The war started in 1945, and Walt was drafted into the Navy. He was assigned to Radar School to be deployed at sea, but his brother Bill happened to be talking with
some Naval personnel about his brother's Chemical Engineering degree, and Walt was
immediately reassigned to the Philadelphia Navy yard working on the top secret Manhattan Project. Walt remained in Philadelphia during the war working there to
enrich uranium for use in the A-bomb which was used to end the war with Japan.
After the war, Walt and Wilma returned to Blacksburg where Walt got a Masters
Degree in Chemical Engineering. Eventually settling in Philadelphia, they had
two sons, John, and Walter, Jr. Moving to Virginia, the family settled on Wilma's father's farm and built a home where they lived for the remainder of their lives.
Walt was very active in his church, Christ Lutheran. He spent a great deal of time with his family; camping, boating, and taking vacations around the U.S. Walt could
fix anything; cars, lawn tractors, radios, washing machines. anything mechanical
could be fixed and was fixed. He and Walter, Jr. worked together to build a summer house on the Potomac River, where the family spent many great holidays and weekends swimming, boating, and eating great meals prepared by Wilma.
Walt was always interested in his grandchildren, Jon-Michael, and Katherine. He was
very proud of the fact that they also attended his alma-mater, VPI (Virginia Tech). We were blessed that he could know his great- grandchildren; Della, Dylan, and Remi. He just missed, by one day, the birth of his fourth, great grand-child, Bennett Michael Rosch.
The family was very fortunate to have his presence and guidance for so many of his 94 years. Walt was active and aware until his last days with us. He was prepared to leave this earth, and be reunited with Wilma, Bill and his family in heaven. We will
miss him dearly.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Walter Herman Rosch was born to Hans E. Rosch and Kathryn Marie Roland
in Victoria, Virginia on February 17, 1922. He had one older brother, William
(Bill) Rosch, who was also born in Victoria. Walt's father worked for the
Virginia Railroad as a mechanic and when the railroad went on strike the
family moved to Camp Bello, Florida. A hurricane devastated the area in 1926, and the family returned to Victoria where Walt attended early grades. This was during the depression and there was very little work in Victoria for Walt's Dad, who worked as an auto-mechanic. Seeking work, the family moved to Washington, DC, and then moved back to Richmond where his Dad worked for the Continental Baking Company. Walt continued in school, eventually attending, and graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School (TJ).
Walt went to his first and second year of college at the VPI extension in Richmond while working at the Continental Baking Company cleaning and greasing baking pans.
Following his brother, Bill who graduated from VPI in 1942, Walt finished his 3rd and 4th years of college at VPI in Blacksburg, majoring in Chemical Engineering and graduated from there in 1944. While at VPI, he met Wilma Fox who was also attending VPI, and they were married in Fairfax, Virginia on December 28, 1944 in a snow storm.
The war started in 1945, and Walt was drafted into the Navy. He was assigned to Radar School to be deployed at sea, but his brother Bill happened to be talking with
some Naval personnel about his brother's Chemical Engineering degree, and Walt was
immediately reassigned to the Philadelphia Navy yard working on the top secret Manhattan Project. Walt remained in Philadelphia during the war working there to
enrich uranium for use in the A-bomb which was used to end the war with Japan.
After the war, Walt and Wilma returned to Blacksburg where Walt got a Masters
Degree in Chemical Engineering. Eventually settling in Philadelphia, they had
two sons, John, and Walter, Jr. Moving to Virginia, the family settled on Wilma's father's farm and built a home where they lived for the remainder of their lives.
Walt was very active in his church, Christ Lutheran. He spent a great deal of time with his family; camping, boating, and taking vacations around the U.S. Walt could
fix anything; cars, lawn tractors, radios, washing machines. anything mechanical
could be fixed and was fixed. He and Walter, Jr. worked together to build a summer house on the Potomac River, where the family spent many great holidays and weekends swimming, boating, and eating great meals prepared by Wilma.
Walt was always interested in his grandchildren, Jon-Michael, and Katherine. He was
very proud of the fact that they also attended his alma-mater, VPI (Virginia Tech). We were blessed that he could know his great- grandchildren; Della, Dylan, and Remi. He just missed, by one day, the birth of his fourth, great grand-child, Bennett Michael Rosch.
The family was very fortunate to have his presence and guidance for so many of his 94 years. Walt was active and aware until his last days with us. He was prepared to leave this earth, and be reunited with Wilma, Bill and his family in heaven. We will
miss him dearly.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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