Rose Ellen Rilea's Obituary
Rose Ellen Rilea, age 82, passed away in the early morning of May 8, 2016 at Palm Garden Nursing Home in Gainesville, FL after a long battle with cancer. She fought a good fight but recently had been wanting to see her mother. She joined her on Mother’s Day.
Rose Ellen was born on July 20, 1933 in Orlando at Florida Hospital. She grew up in Ocala, spending much fun time at their second home on Lake Weir. She graduated from Ocala High School in 1952, then off to F.S.U. where she earned her B.S. and M.S. in Physical Education. She later earned her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at U.F. Her professional career included public school teaching in Orlando, Assistant Professor in Physical Education and supervision of student teachers at the University of Nebraska, and Principal in Middleburg and Jacksonville, FL. She also worked with the State of Florida Human Resources Services as Project Analyst in Gainesville until her retirement. She was active in professional and honorary organizations. Rose Ellen was a people person, never meeting a stranger. She loved the outdoors, mountains, any body of water, helping people, serving her church, traveling, reading, dogs and especially her family and friends. She was active in AGH (now Shands) where she served a long, important leadership role. She was preceded in death by her parents W.W. Rilea and Lois Hill Rilea, and her brother W.W. Rilea, Jr. She is survived by her nephew, W.W. Rilea, III of Seffner, FL and niece, Laura Rilea of Naples, FL plus numerous cousins and special friends. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 28, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 100 N.E. First Street, Gainesville 32601. Burial will precede the service at 10:30 a.m. in Highland Memorial Park in Ocala. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 or Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Please visit Rose Ellen’s memorial page at www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com.
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