Rose Edna (Simmons) Dieterlen

Rose Edna Simmons Dieterlen 104, formerly of Charlestown, IN passed away on Monday, June 17, 2024, at Charlestown Place in New Albany, IN.

She was born on November 1, 1919, in Tulsa, OK to Ray and Ethel Downer Simmons.  Rose was a member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Otisco, IN.

Rose married Forest Graves in French Lick, IN.  She was a wonderful seamstress, making wedding dresses for her daughters.  Family gatherings were special to her, especially with her pies, cakes, fudge, etc.  The family still uses her recipes today.  Her earliest big contest win in 1948 was her first refrigerator.  It replaced her ice box.  In 1957, Rose and Forest owned Graves Grocery in North Charlestown until he died in 1958.  In 1962, when she remarried it became Dieterlen Grocery.  In later years, she found her niche working in the flower department at Target in Clarksville, IN, from where she retired.  She loved to cook and entered several state fair contests, winning sweepstakes and first place in many divisions.  She and Oliver later moved to their home in Otisco, IN.

Rose was preceded in death by her husbands, Forest Graves and Oliver Dieterlen; children, Deloris, Frances, Richard, and Gerald; siblings, Owen Simmons (Madeline), Chuck Homer Simmons (Grace), Sam Simmons (Imagene), Frank Simmons, Mary Grider (Ernest), Irene Simmons (first and second husbands, Kenneth Howard and Paul Stackhouse).

Survivors include her children, Carol Dieterlen (Maurice), Rosetta Adams (Allen), Kevin Graves (Jo), Russell Dieterlen (Kay); sister, Jane Leonard (Jim), daughter-in-law, Brenda Graves, sister-in-law, Annie Simmons, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Life Celebration Services will be at 1:00 pm on Friday, June 21, 2014, at Grayson Funeral Home in Charlestown with burial in Emmanuel Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday and from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Friday.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Arthritis Foundation or to Emmanuel Cemetery.