Benny Herman Rose, 76, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away Friday, December 28, 2018 at Angel Bright Hospice in Corpus Christi.

Benny, the son of Herman Levi and Opal Irene Rose, was born in Kirksville, MO and graduated from Kirksville Senior High School in 1960. He earned BS degrees in physics and education from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in 1965. He also earned MS and PhD degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1967 and 1972, respectively.

Benny left specific bequests to establish graduate student fellowships in physics at the University of Missouri-Columbia and scholarships at Truman State University for students from Adair County and LaPlata High School.

Benny worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory (NY) and Kirtland Air Force Base (NM) for several years before moving to Sandia National Laboratory (NM). He was valued at Sandia for his scientific expertise and straightforward approach to problem solving. He worked at Sandia for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2005. In 2016 he moved to Corpus Christi, TX where he lived until his death.

He is survived by his brother James A. Rose of Seaford, NY, his sister-in-law Kaye Rose of Muscatine, IA, his nephew James R. Rose and his nieces Rebecca Rose, Julie Rose Moschella, Elizabeth Rose Mason, Kimberly Rose Goldberg and Paula Rose.

A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at the La Plata City Cemetery in La Plata, Missouri, with Pastor Ralph Wheeler presiding.

Services are under the direction of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, Missouri.