Obituary for David Thomas Rozzell
David Thomas Rozzell was born on February 23, 1946. He died on October 23, 2022. The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life on Sunday, November 13th at 2:00 at the Black Mountain First Baptist Church.
David loved spending time with his family and friends, as well as his many pets, especially his sweet beagle, Ben. We know that he was enveloped by the love of his parents and grandparents Betty and Grady Rozzell, Carlos and Mary Lou Thomas and Frank and Louisa Rozzell, who passed before him. He is survived by his wife Dr. Judith Rozzell; daughters Amy Behrendt and Nancy Johnson and his son, Jeff Owens; grandchildren, Connor Behrendt, Sophie Behrendt, Yates Johnson and Hannah Johnson; sisters, Terri Rozzell Brooks (Joe), Carol Rozzell Tyson (Joe) and Pegg Rozzell.
He had a generous heart of gold, never hesitating to help people out. Because he was a big kid at heart, his nieces and nephews; Jody Brooks Groch (Tom), Alisun Osteen Henion (Dave), Aaron Osteen (Jill), Olivia Rozzell Tyson-Warren (Kevin), Andrew Tyson, and great niece, Piper Groch, adored him. He was known for his friendliness and he never hesitated to let people know that he loved them. He is also survived by a large extended family and an abundance of friends.
David graduated from Owen High School, Black Mountain NC in 1964. He was an outstanding member on the Owen Golf team from 1961 – 1964 and qualified 3 consecutive years for the NC Golf Tournament. He graduated from NC State with a degree in Agronomy in 1968. After graduation he worked as a golf pro and greens superintendent in Henderson NC.
In 1969 David was drafted by the U.S. Army and deployed to Vietnam. He served as a combat medic in the United States Army C Company, 15th Medical, 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded the National Service Medal, Sharpshooter Medal, Combat Medical Badge and Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Stars.
David was a man of many talents and master of most. Horses were a lifelong love. He was a skilled farrier, rider, trainer and teacher of young riders. His Missouri Fox Trotters are well known on the circuit and his awards and ribbons are too numerous to mention. He exhibited and won the World Missouri Fox Trotters championship in Reining on his horse “Sam.” He also had several World Champion Model horses. He was a facilitator in his vast network of “horse” friends and a founder or a board member of multiple horse associations. Among them were the Southeastern Fox Trotting Horse Association, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association and the McDowell Saddle and Bridle Club. David was a great lover of animals and their people. He served as a volunteer veterinary assistant at the Swannanoa Pet Clinic days, nights and weekends. He was known for his gentle hands and comforting words during difficult times.
David’s love of singing afforded many opportunities to perform at weddings and funerals where his rich baritone voice was a gift to all attendees. He was also in multiple church choirs in Buncombe and McDowell Counties.
In 2016 David joined a group initiated by Joseph Bathanti, NC Poet Laureate (2012) and Dr. Bruce Kelly, Primary Care Physician at Asheville VA Medical Center. It was a creative writing program for Vietnam veterans with PTSD to tell their stories. Two years later they premiered “Brothers Like These” in book form and as a staged reading at Asheville Community Theater.
David was the Rozzell family’s historian and genealogy expert. Through his and Judy’s European travels and research he traced the Rozzell heritage back to the Vikings. They also researched World War II history.
David’s most treasured gift to his family was his recently published book “Rosie’s Sweat Box.” It tells the story of his father’s WWII service as a B-17 Pilot in the European Theater.
David had a long and troublesome journey, but he never stopped loving and longing for all that is good. He was a man without prejudice, and he loved without judgment.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of the following:
First Baptist Church of Marion
99 N Main Street
Marion, NC 28752
Black Mountain Home for Children
80 Lake Eden Road
Black Mountain, N C 28711
NC Veteran’s Writing Alliance
Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 18113
Asheville NC 28814
David loved spending time with his family and friends, as well as his many pets, especially his sweet beagle, Ben. We know that he was enveloped by the love of his parents and grandparents Betty and Grady Rozzell, Carlos and Mary Lou Thomas and Frank and Louisa Rozzell, who passed before him. He is survived by his wife Dr. Judith Rozzell; daughters Amy Behrendt and Nancy Johnson and his son, Jeff Owens; grandchildren, Connor Behrendt, Sophie Behrendt, Yates Johnson and Hannah Johnson; sisters, Terri Rozzell Brooks (Joe), Carol Rozzell Tyson (Joe) and Pegg Rozzell.
He had a generous heart of gold, never hesitating to help people out. Because he was a big kid at heart, his nieces and nephews; Jody Brooks Groch (Tom), Alisun Osteen Henion (Dave), Aaron Osteen (Jill), Olivia Rozzell Tyson-Warren (Kevin), Andrew Tyson, and great niece, Piper Groch, adored him. He was known for his friendliness and he never hesitated to let people know that he loved them. He is also survived by a large extended family and an abundance of friends.
David graduated from Owen High School, Black Mountain NC in 1964. He was an outstanding member on the Owen Golf team from 1961 – 1964 and qualified 3 consecutive years for the NC Golf Tournament. He graduated from NC State with a degree in Agronomy in 1968. After graduation he worked as a golf pro and greens superintendent in Henderson NC.
In 1969 David was drafted by the U.S. Army and deployed to Vietnam. He served as a combat medic in the United States Army C Company, 15th Medical, 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded the National Service Medal, Sharpshooter Medal, Combat Medical Badge and Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Stars.
David was a man of many talents and master of most. Horses were a lifelong love. He was a skilled farrier, rider, trainer and teacher of young riders. His Missouri Fox Trotters are well known on the circuit and his awards and ribbons are too numerous to mention. He exhibited and won the World Missouri Fox Trotters championship in Reining on his horse “Sam.” He also had several World Champion Model horses. He was a facilitator in his vast network of “horse” friends and a founder or a board member of multiple horse associations. Among them were the Southeastern Fox Trotting Horse Association, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association and the McDowell Saddle and Bridle Club. David was a great lover of animals and their people. He served as a volunteer veterinary assistant at the Swannanoa Pet Clinic days, nights and weekends. He was known for his gentle hands and comforting words during difficult times.
David’s love of singing afforded many opportunities to perform at weddings and funerals where his rich baritone voice was a gift to all attendees. He was also in multiple church choirs in Buncombe and McDowell Counties.
In 2016 David joined a group initiated by Joseph Bathanti, NC Poet Laureate (2012) and Dr. Bruce Kelly, Primary Care Physician at Asheville VA Medical Center. It was a creative writing program for Vietnam veterans with PTSD to tell their stories. Two years later they premiered “Brothers Like These” in book form and as a staged reading at Asheville Community Theater.
David was the Rozzell family’s historian and genealogy expert. Through his and Judy’s European travels and research he traced the Rozzell heritage back to the Vikings. They also researched World War II history.
David’s most treasured gift to his family was his recently published book “Rosie’s Sweat Box.” It tells the story of his father’s WWII service as a B-17 Pilot in the European Theater.
David had a long and troublesome journey, but he never stopped loving and longing for all that is good. He was a man without prejudice, and he loved without judgment.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of the following:
First Baptist Church of Marion
99 N Main Street
Marion, NC 28752
Black Mountain Home for Children
80 Lake Eden Road
Black Mountain, N C 28711
NC Veteran’s Writing Alliance
Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 18113
Asheville NC 28814