R.R. Stauber
Aug. 6, 1928 Feb. 2, 2018 Colonel R.R. Stauber, known as Rose, died Friday, February 2, 2018. She was born in Noel, Mo., August 6, 1928, to Martin and Pearl Rose Stauber, and grew up on the Stauber Farm near Noel. Rose graduated from Noel High School and Southwest Missouri State University where she graduated with honors in 1949. After teaching briefly in Springfield Public Schools, she joined the U.S. Army.
Rose graduated from Officer Candidate School in March 1952; and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Her career alternated troop duty with public affairs, serving in the WAC Center, Ft. Lee, Va.; Ft. McClellan, Ala.; Ft. Eustis, Va., Ft. Levenworth, Kan.; and Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. She served four tours in Germany and one year in Vietnam. In 1967, Rose was sent to the University of Missouri, where she earned a master’s degree in journalism.
During her career, Rose was the first woman to hold four positions in the Army: Battalion Commander at the U.S. WAC Center, Ft. McClelland; Public Affairs Officer with the Army’s V Corps, Frankfort, Germany; Editor-in-Chief of Military Review, the Army’s professional journal, Ft. Levenworth, Kan.; and Editor -in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer of the “Stars and Stripes,” the daily newspaper for U.S. Forces in Europe and the Middle East, headquartered at Darmstadt, Germany. The “Stars and Stripes” had a budget of $40 million and delivered daily newspapers to U.S. troops from Scotland to Turkey, a distance comparable to the distance from Seattle to Key West. This was her last assignment; she retired as a full colonel in 1982. Rose was awarded the Legion of Merit, the second highest decoration for service; the Bronze Star Medal; and the Army Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
During her retirement in Grove, Okla., Rose became interested in genealogy. As with everything she did, nothing was haphazard. Every name and date had to be documented through official records. She had work published in several historical publications and made presentations to various historical groups in Oklahoma and Missouri. With a crew of Grove volunteers, she read the cemeteries of Delaware County, publishing their work in cemetery books. She also published records for McDonald County cemeteries, and funeral homes.
For many years she volunteered at the Grove Library, helping those who needed help with their family genealogy. Rose also led the VITA program in Grove, which helps seniors with their tax returns.
Rose is survived by three siblings; James B. Stauber and wife Joan of Noel; Stevens Stauber and wife Della of Bozeman, Mont.; and Shirley McAllister of Sun City, Ariz. She will be remembered by her nephews and a niece, grandnephews and a grandniece. She benefited from the loving care of her guardians Juanita Holmes and Kathy Ford and several caregivers who saw that she could remain in her home as she wished.
Services will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, February 8, 2018, at Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home Chapel in Grove, Okla. Burial will be held at Southwest Cemetery in Southwest City, Mo. Online condolences can be made by viewing Rose’s Book of Memories at www. honoringmemories.com. Memorial donations can be made in Rose’s name to the Southwest City Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 248, Southwest City, MO 64863 or the Grove Public Library 1140 NEO Loop, Grove, OK 74344.
PAID OBITUARY