OTTAWA — R.E. “Rosey” and Eileen Roseberry have willed $4 million to the Franklin County Community Foundation. Chairman Ken Woods said it’s the largest bequest in the history of the foundation. Roseberry Fund trustee John Richeson said the Roseberrys wanted to leave something useful for the community. The Roseberrys loved people and were grateful for the support their business, the Roseberry Auto Body Shop, from the community, Richeson said. The premature death of their son may have also influenced their thinking, he said. The Roseberrys also farmed in Franklin County and much of the farm land will be sold to help form the endowment, he said. Rosey Roseberry died in 2000 and Eileen Roseberry died in February. Richeson said the $4 million will be held in perpetuity and the interest from the money to be used for several purposes. Those include: Scholarships for graduates from the four Franklin County high schools who are admitted to the Kansas State veterinary school or who pursue music studies at Kansas State; scholarships to students who have been residents at least 10 years of either Kansas or Missouri who attend the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo.; an emergency fund for the Ottawa chapter of the Salvation Army; also to the Ottawa First United Methodist Church for dealing with social needs.
Thursday, May 6, 1 p.m.
