Loretta Marie Rosser

Loretta Marie Rosser was born in Muskogee, OK on February 9, 1923, daughter of Jack and Gladys Whitten. She is the oldest of seven children. She met her late husband, Thomas Eathorne Rosser, in Muskogee where he was stationed at Camp Gruber during World War II. They fell in love and wrote to each other while he was overseas. After they married, Loretta left her family and moved to California with her suitcase and the love of her life. She has resided in Long Beach since 1952.

Loretta worked for Long Beach City College and Long Beach Unified for almost 20 years. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church for over 70 years. She was an Eastern Star member for 72 years. She volunteered in PTA, Job’s Daughters and DeMolay.

She has had an extremely blessed life. She drove until the age of 93, her mind was fully with her until about 12 hours before her death, she was the historian for our family and neighborhood, and she fully embraced life. Other than family, she had many loves…her Tuesday morning breakfast group, playing Scrabble and Dominoes, game shows like Let’s Make a Deal, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and the Price is Right, going out for a meal with family or friends, and of course, Publisher Clearing House. She had such hopes of them knocking on her door. She had a list a mile long with all the names she was going to do something special for with her winnings. Her kindness and grace will always be cherished. Every poke or procedure at the hospital was always ended by her saying “Thank you”. God blessed her with grace, humility, kindness, a loving spirit, and love for life.

Her occupation over the last 70 years has been Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma. She loved being around her family. Loretta was always baking/cooking a family favorite. Just weeks before her death, she made our favorite…peach cobbler.

Loretta’s passing was peaceful. She began to tell us that she was “real sick” and she “wanted to go home to be with Jesus”. She went home to be with the Lord on September 1, 2019 at 4:04am. What a reunion Tom and Loretta must have had after being apart for almost 37 years.

She is survived by her children Larry Rosser (Karen) and Linda Brett (Steve); her grandchildren Jackie Manullang (Larry), Danielle Hull (Ryan), Stephanie Brett (Kenny Young) and Landon Rosser; and her great-grandchildren Austin Brett, Jake Manullang, Tyler Manullang and Cheyanne Young; her brother Joe Whitten; her sisters-in-laws Ming Whitten and Nancy Whitten; nieces Marsha Lines, Sherry Goodrum, Phyllis Poole, Marta Prentice, Cindy Kohler; and nephews Barry Whitten, Rodger Whitten, David Whitten, Scott Akers, Eric Akers, Mark Akers, Phil Whitten, Richard Kohler, Danny Kohler, and Tim Kohler.

She is preceded in death by Thomas, her husband – Jack and Gladys Whitten, her parents – Jack Whitten, Jerry Whitten, Phil Whitten and Ernest Lee Whitten, her brothers – Helen Stith, her sister – Betty Whitten, Virginia Whitten, Merlene Whitten, her sisters-in-laws – and Don Stith, her brother-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Loretta Rosser’s memory.

The viewing will be held on Monday, September 9, 2019 from 4-7pm at Luyben Dilday Mortuary. Loretta’s funeral service will be at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 3955 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach 90808. Immediately following will be her graveside service at Forest Lawn Cypress, 4471 Lincoln Avenue, Cypress 90630…her final resting place.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401