Ed and Joyce Rosser
Bob Neuman
Joyce Rosser refers to her Ed, husband of 69 years, as a “good guy.”
He returns the compliment numerous ways. It’s evident the flame of affection has not burned out through all these years.
From Michigan, the Rossers discovered SunBird in 1987 when it was then pretty primitive. They became residents in 1998. Joyce had been a CPA who later did accounting for a Lansing hospital. Ed was employed at a utility for 33 years.
The couple met in a bowling alley and later owned and managed a Pro Shop where bowling balls and bowling equipment were sold. Joyce was the engraver of the trophies.
Ed was an accomplished bowler, his thirst for the game began as a pin boy. Through the years he won many trophies and accolades. He participated in 37 ABC tournaments and 40 state and local ones and finished first 21 times. In 1969 he bowled for the United States team that won the competition between countries in Puerto Rico. He once received a bronze belt buckle. The diamond in it he reset and gave as a ring to his best girl. Ed in his career bowled three 300 games, had a lifetime average of 206 and managed a high series of 770.
Joyce has the unique hobby of making beautiful, intricate Ming trees.
“They take a lot of time,” she said. Although she sells some, Ed says she gives a lot of them away to family and friends.
Ed is a proud veteran of WW II where he served in the Navy assigned to a rocket firing LSM. They saw action in the 1945 invasion of Okinawa. On May 4 his ship was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane that sunk it; 16 of the 74 crew perished. Ed was in the water for seven hours before being rescued. “I remember every minute of that day,” said Ed.
This year, Ed was chosen for the Honor Flight Arizona, a private non-profit organization created to honor WW II and Korean veterans for their many sacrifices by giving a three-day journey to Washington DC. Veterans are often accompanied by sons or daughters. Because of the time factor, each veteran rides in a wheelchair as they tour the monuments, Arlington Cemetery, etc.
In September, Ed and Joyce made the trip and, as every other veteran would attest, the entire experience was beyond expectations.
Of the 16,000,000 in the military during WW II, fewer than one million remain. They are dying at 750 to 1,000 per day. For WW II veterans to apply for the flight they must have served between December 7, 1941 and January 31, 1946. Flights are now open to Korean veterans who served between June 25, 1950 and January 11, 1955.
Joyce and Ed are gratefully happy and content in warm Arizona near their family and she with her good guy named Ed.