by 
Rosie Flores
died February 3 at Emery L Bennet Memorial State Veteran Nursing Home in Dayton Beach, Florida. She was 88 years old.
Rose Varela Flores was born October 31, 1923 in Cottonwood Arizona. She attended Clarkdale High School and graduated with the class of 1942. Following High School Rosie joined the war effort and went to Goodyear Arizona and worked as “Rosie the Riveter”. She was a riveter on airplanes. On May 1944, she decided to serve her country and joined the Waves/Navy. She completed her military service on March 1946 and received the American Area Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal. In 1948 she married Juan Flores.
Rosie, Juan and her six children moved to Tiger in 1953 as they waited for the homes to be built in new town of San Manuel. Rosie was fully involved in the community, she was on the Avenue B Elementary School PTA, and was a Cub Scout leader. In her parish at St Bartholomew she was a member of the Alter and Rosary Society, she also was a catechism teacher, and taught the first communion classes. She was also active in the Democratic Women’s Club and worked many years on the election board. She sold Avon for 17 years driving around San Manuel in her little white Volkswagen.
Rosie and Juan lived in San Manuel until 1982 when they built a home in Oracle. Her community involvement continued in Oracle. She volunteered for many years at the Oracle Library, the Oak Tree Festival, and sang in the St. Helen’s choir. She managed the Mammoth Tri-Community Thrift Store and distributed bread for the St. Vincent de Paul Society for anyone in need for many years.
She is survived by her six children: John (Patte) Flores, Thomas (Connie) Flores, Sandra (Oscar) Silva, James (Chandra) Flores, Christina (Andy) Throop, and Gregory (Pat) Flores, 10 grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.
In memory of Rosie Flores, donations can be sent to the Oracle Public Library PO Box 960 Oracle, AZ 85323.
Services will take place on Saturday, February 25, at 11:00 am in the St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Oracle. Burial will be following the mass at the Oracle Cemetery.
Rosie Flores
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