Rose Widner Gude

Rose Widner Gude, 93, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, with loved ones by her side.

She was born Nov. 29, 1921, in Turrell. She was a resident of Blytheville for most of her life and a member of First Baptist Church. Most recently, she lived in Germantown, Tennessee, and she was a member of Germantown Baptist Church.

Rose was a teacher at Gosnell Elementary School for 21 years. She was a member of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Orpheus Music Club, The National League of American Pen Women, Mississippi County Writer's Guild and The Blytheville Rose Society. She loved writing books, poetry and short stories. She taught Sunday school and sang in the church choir.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, James David (J.D) Widner; and her second husband, Joe Henry Gude.

She is survived by her children, David Michael Widner (Cynthia) of Titusville, Florida, and Patricia Widner Medling of Collierville, Tennessee;

Her grandchildren, Tara Rose Medling Skelton (Tracy) of Olive Branch, Mississippi, and Brandon Hess Medling (Kelly) of Germantown, Tennessee; and

Her great-grandchildren, Neely Rose Skelton (10), Mary Elizabeth Skelton (10), Anniston Ruth Medling (3) and Davis Hayden Medling (infant).

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Germantown Baptist Church, and the service will begin at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Dogwood Cemetery in Blytheville.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Online condolences may be made at www.familyfuneralmemphis.com.