Rosaura "Rosa" Jimenez

Rosaura “Rosa” Rodriquez Jimenez, our beloved wife, daughter, mother, sister, and friend, Rosaura (Rosa) Rodriguez Jimenez passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.

Rosa was born on Aug. 30, 1963, in Estacion de Catorce, San Luis Potosí, Mexico to Miguel and Teresa Rodriguez. In 1964, Rosa’s family moved to Walla Walla with the gracious support of the Ted and Rose Larson family, whose farmstead near Stateline Road became her first home.

Rosa nurtured a lifelong love for reading and learning attending the Stateline SDA Church, the Walla Walla Spanish SDA Church, Milton Stateline SDA Elementary School, and Walla Walla Valley Academy, where she graduated in 1981.

Rosa attended Walla Walla College from 1981-1985. Rosa’s classmates respected her for her kindness, sense of humor, and professional expertise in graphic design and writing.

Graduating with a bachelor of arts in communications media in 1985, Rosa began working for her alma mater, Walla Walla College. She wrote grants, worked with donors, and later became well-known to graduates of the institution as a reliable voice from home by editing the alumni journal, Westwind, for many years.

After twenty-five years at WWU—including two as interim vice president for university advancement— she enthusiastically embraced a new challenge as the City of Walla Walla’s first communications manager in 2014, helping the city better serve its growing and diverse constituency.

Rosa’s richest legacy is her immediate family. Rosa and her husband Vince were married in 1990 at the First Congregational Church in Walla Walla. They enjoyed twenty-four years of marriage and welcomed the addition of their children, Marisa, Michael, and Isabella. Rosa was a devoted wife to Vince and mother to her children.

Rosa is survived by her husband, Vince; her children Marisa, Michael, and Isabella; her parents, Miguel and Teresa Rodriguez; and her siblings, Blanca, Mike, Lisa, Jaime, and Diane; and her many nieces and nephews and other relatives.

A memorial service will be held at the Walla Walla University Church in College Place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 5, 2015. Plans are being made to start a scholarship in Rosa’s name at Walla Walla University.