Rosa Ella Meadowes

Rosa Ella Amanda Schroeder Meadowes was born in the Waterloo Community on May 20, 1914 to Theo and Emma Wuthrich Schroeder. She was baptized at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on September 13, 1914 and confirmed at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on September 9, 1928. She attended Waterloo School (2 room schoolhouse) through the 7th grade after which she attended Taylor High School, graduating in 1932. She then went to a Beauty College in San Antonio. After receiving her diploma, she went to work at Bubella’s Beauty Shop in Taylor. Later, she went to work as a beautician in Victoria, Texas.

She quit there in 1946 and married Wm. J. Meadowes on September 11, 1946. William had received his discharge from the Air Force at the end of World War II. They were hotel-motel managers until his sudden death on October 18, 1962, at age 51.

She went to Houston after his death and worked there until 1975, the year her mother died. Her dad wanted her to live with him at the home place in Waterloo Community so she took an early retirement from her job and became cook, gardener, chauffeur and domino player playing almost every day. She and her dad did some traveling in the states, he wanted to go on a cruise to Panama, so with some friends, they went, on his 90th birthday. He died in 1984 and she then left the home place to live in the Taylor city limits. She was chose “Women of the Year” in Taylor in 2003. She did a lot of volunteer work and also gave transportation to those who needed rides to the clinic or to their churches.

She loved traveling but at age 93 she became very interested in DVD’s of nature, scenic drives, national parks and other countries – enjoying these in the comfort of home.

She was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church where she started in 1914 until 2010 (96 years) when she joined St. Paul Lutheran Church. Rosa passed away July 1, 2016 at the age of 102.

She is survived by nieces and nephews Bonnie George, Janis Vasut, Sharon Jenschke, Charles Schroeder, Betty Burke, Judy Saucier, Donna Bohlmann and Thommy Schroeder, numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews and brother-in-law Alfred Meiske.

She would like to be remembered for her travels and her garden from which she made many flower arrangements for her church.

Visitation will be 1 P.M. Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at St. Paul Lutheran Church narthex. Celebration of Life Service will be 2 P.M. Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Burial to follow at the Taylor City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Flower and Decoration Fund.

There will be a reception at the St. Paul Lutheran Educational Building following the graveside comital service.