Rose Rich Holcombe

Weaverville Rose Rich Holcombe, 82, of 32 Highland Street died Thursday, October 20, 2011 at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center. Rose Rich was born in Oklahoma City, OK on January 29, 1929 and was a resident of Buncombe County most of her life. Mrs. Holcombe was the daughter of the late Ellis Rich and Imogene (Smith) Rich. Mrs. Holcombe was also preceded in death by her beloved husband and friend of 51 years, John Beaman Holcombe. Both of Roses parents were from Alabama and her father was in the painting business. They had migrated west to pursue a better market for his business, settling in Texas and later in Oklahoma. Rose comes from a traditional large family, where she is the youngest child of eight siblings. Rose was the last living member of the Rich clan. At age five, her family moved back to Birmingham, AL, where she was raised. She then attended Toccoa Falls High School at Toccoa, GA where she eventually met and married her future husband, John Holcombe. After his stint in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Holcombe brought his new bride to live here in the beautiful and grand Western North Carolina Mountains. Roses life can be summed up as an example of honesty, integrity and devotion as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and daughter. She was a very devout faithful saint of God. Her testimony left behind is she endured in Christ, till the end. A remarkable lady with a host of talents. She was frugal and could find a SALE in a wind storm. A woman of southern humility, yet her ticket to fame was her celebrated cooking skills. One never came from her table hungry with such a country throw down of tasty fixings. Active in community, schools and church. Long time member of Riverside Baptist Church in Woodfin, where she was a Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School worker. Member of a large Christian Ladies Bible Study Group of Asheville. In recent years, Mrs. Holcombe also attended Macedonia Baptist Church in Alexander. Rose is survived by her three grateful sons, Don and Dennis Holcombe both of Asheville and Mark Holcombe of Weaverville; her loving daughter, Lynn Holcombe West of Greenville, SC and seven grandchildren. Graveside services will be held 2 P.M. Monday at Pisgah View Memorial Park with Pastor David Dupree officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 to 1:45 P.M. Monday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home. The family would like to express a special thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center for care given to Rose. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CarePartners Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 5779, Asheville, N.C. 28813.