Rose Marie Reading Atkinson

Rose Marie Reading Atkinson passed away peacefully at her home at the Charlestown Retirement Community on May 7, 2023, at the age of 86. She was born and raised on a farm in Indiana. After high school, Rose joined the Navy in 1955 and served for 2 years. She met her beloved Troy while serving in Bainbridge, Maryland. They were married for 66 years.

Rose was a proud Navy wife and mother of 3. She returned to school and completed her bachelor's degree at George Mason University in history. Rose spent her career as an assistant librarian at US News and World Report.

Rose was ordained as a Deacon at Forest Heights Baptist Church in Oxon Hill Maryland in 1980. Upon retirement she volunteered for the Red Cross at the USO lounge welcoming soldiers back from overseas. Once they moved to Charlestown, Rose was a member of the vestry, choir member, a pastoral care visitor at Wilton Overlook, and a card ministry volunteer.

She shined the light of God on everyone she met with her kindness and generosity.

Rose is survived by her two sons Troy Jessup, Jr (Marie) and Michael Jon (Margaret), son in love Louis (Jody), her granddaughters Leah Rose (Emily) Lauren Rose (Robert), Michelle Marie (Josh), Caroline Elizabeth, great-granddaughters Dorothy Rose and Penelope Marie. She was predeceased by her daughter Sharon in August 2012 and her husband Troy Jessup, Sr. in February of 2023.

The Celebration of Life for Rose Marie Atkinson will be held on June 18, 2023 at 3pm in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel on the Charlestown Community Campus in Catonsville, Maryland.

A private family gathering will take place at the Baltimore National Cemetery in Catonsville, Maryland. Both Rose Marie and Troy Atkinson will be interred together as Navy veterans.

In lieu of flowers, Rose's wishes were for donations to the 'Professor Sharon R. Drummeter Nursing Scholarship' in care of

Shepherd University Foundation

P O Box 5000

Shepherdstown, WV 25443-5000

or by credit card at http:/shepherduniversityfoundation.org/donate/

select "other" as the designation and type in Drummeter Scholarship

He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 ASV