Barbara Ann Rose

Barbara Ann Rose, 77, of White Township, NJ, passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital in Phillipsburg, NJ on April 5, 2024. Born on October 4, 1946 in Orlando, Florida, she was the daughter of the late Henry Clifford Wolking and Florence Josephine (nee Bennett) Wolking.  After growing up in central Florida and graduating from high school in Merritt Island, Florida, Barbara earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.  In 1968 she married a military man, James Carroll, and together they lived in a variety of locations (Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Arizona, and Berlin, Germany) as his Army career progressed. In between all the moves, Barbara managed to complete her Master’s degree in Library Science.  After Mr. Carroll’s retirement from the Army, they settled in Flemington, NJ, and Barbara embarked on a career as a librarian, eventually being named Director of the public library in Washington, NJ. In 1997, Mr. Carroll passed away.  Several years later, Barbara met Paul Rose through her involvement in the Washington Kiwanis Club, and they were married in 2004. Mr. Rose passed away in 2018.  In addition to the Kiwanis Club, Barbara was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington and the Washington Women’s Club.  She loved organizing activities and events in the church and the community, as well as tending to her “P-Patch” vegetable garden.  Her arts and crafts materials were her pride and joy, and she enjoyed making hand-crafted greeting cards for every season and for any reason.  Barbara is survived by her brothers Henry Wolking of Boulder City, NV and Frank Wolking of Melbourne, FL, her three step-children Glenn Rose and his wife Cheryl of Belvidere, NJ; Shawn Rose and his partner Jupinder Gill of Bellevue, WA; Gwen Rose-Weidner and her husband Tom of Allentown, PA; five step-grandchildren, Tyler, Lindsay, Arshia, Kiana, and Sophia; and several nieces and nephews.  Along with her parents and husbands, she was predeceased by her brother James Wolking. 

A memorial service will be held at 1pm on May 25, 2024 at the First Presbyterian Church of Washington.  The Finegan Funeral Homes of Phillipsburg and Alpha are handling arrangements. Visit www.fineganfh.com. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent, in Barbara’s name to the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, Gift & Memorial Fund, 40 Church St, Washington, NJ  07882.