Rosalie Kennedy West, of Wilmington, died peacefully Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, at the age of 92.
Born Feb. 25, 1923, in Savannah, Georgia, Rosalie was the daughter of Florence Coward Kennedy and Walter Armstrong Kennedy.
She moved to Wilmington in 1942, where she met and married Thomas Edison West. After raising five children, she joined the workforce at the Babcock and Wilcox Company. She retired in 1984, when the company closed, and thereafter was employed at Cape Fear Memorial Hospital. Her second retirement came in 2004 at the age of 81.
Rosalie was an avid golfer and played for many years on a women’s league at Wilmington Municipal Golf Course. She was a wonderful seamstress, patiently smocking dresses by hand for her daughters and creating beautiful wardrobes for Barbie dolls. A skilled cook in southern cuisine, her fried chicken and biscuits were renowned.
For the last three years she lived at Lake Shore Commons, where she was known for her sense of humor, positive attitude and kind spirit. Until her recent illness she was an enthusiastic participant in many activities at Lake Shore Commons.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas E. West Sr.; son, James Lawrence West; and siblings, Fred Kennedy, Ruth Kennedy, Grace Weatherford, Josephine Barton and Sue Reynolds.
Rosalie is survived by her sons, Thomas E. West Jr. (Bettie Anne) and Daniel L. West; daughter-in-law, Sherrial West; daughters, Susan Marquis (Rollin) and Jane Harris (Cothran); eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, at Winter Park Baptist Church, 4700 Wrightsville Ave., Wilmington, NC 28403.
In lieu of flowers, the immediate family is requesting that a donation to Winter Park Baptist Church or your favorite charity be made in her memory.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Wilmington Funeral & Cremation.
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