Wayne Rosson, 86, of Cleveland, Tennessee, died on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at his residence.
Born on Friday, the 13 of June, 1930 in Flint, MI, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Kathleen Louise (Hardin) Rosson; his father, Thomas Walter Rosson, Sr.; mother Lessie (Gage) Rosson; four sisters, Helen Dial, Dorothy Dean, Mary McClelland, Wanda Dee Rosson (twin sister, died in early childhood); and three brothers, Stephen Rosson (infant), Thomas Walter Rosson, Jr. and Charles Leon Rosson.
Born and raised in the Church of God, he accepted God’s call on his life to enter the ministry as a teenager. He attended Lee College where he met his future wife, Kathleen. They married on June 7, 1952 and enjoyed 60 years of wedded bliss until her death in July 2012. Upon getting married, they moved to Illinois where he served as an itinerant evangelist, church planter and pastor. Subsequent pastorates were in Ohio, Tennessee, Maryland, and Indiana. Reverend Rosson also held various positions in the Church of God: State Youth and Christian Education Director (S. Ohio), district pastor (MD and IN), and served on numerous state boards and committees. In his most recent appointment, Pastor Rosson served the Harvest Time Church of God in Michigan City, IN for 28 years. Upon retiring from active ministry, Pastor Rosson moved to Cleveland and published a book on “The Pursuit of Perfection: By Experiencing the Seven Baptisms of the New Testament.”
Throughout his ministry, Reverend Rosson had the mind of a teacher and the heart of a pastor, often extending God’s grace to those who had fallen and needed love, forgiveness, and acceptance. Reverend Rosson also promoted and supported young ministers and believed in the healing power of nurturing friendships among his ministerial colleagues.
Reverend Rosson is survived by his son Thomas Wayne Rosson and his wife Claudia; three grandchildren, Colin, Kevin and Brianna, all residing in Germany; one brother John Carter Rosson; one sister Rebecca (Bill) Williams both of Cleveland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted Thursday, March 30, at 2 p.m. from the Westmore Church of God with Pastor Jerry Martin and Pastor Kelvin Page officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunset Memorial Gardens with Colin Rosson, Kevin Rosson, Norman Black, Mike Hardin, Ilya Okhotnikov, and Andy Dimbi serving as active casket bearers.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday at the Westmore Church of God.
The Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Ocoee Chapel has charge of the arrangements.