Elrose LaPlante was 50-year resident

DOWNEY - Elrose (Rose) LaPlante, a 50-year Downey resident and mother of long-time Downey school board member, Donald LaPlante, died on Sept. 7 at age 90.She was born Feb. 12, 1919 in Detroit, Mich., the daughter of John F. and Olive Merriman Schwartz. She came to California at the age of two and never looked back. She graduated from Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles in 1937. During World War II, she worked for a number of companies doing her part for the war effort. At the end of the war, she went to work for RKO studios in Hollywood. In 1947, she joined a studio bowling league and her got Frank Sinatra to sponsor their team. She said he was always nice and courteous, and she remained his fan for the rest of her life. She met her future husband, Victor LaPlante, who she married on Valentine's Day in 1948, at the bowling league. She continued to work until her son, Donald, was born in 1955, when she retired to be a homemaker. She and the family moved to Downey in 1960. Her daughter, Sandra was born in 1963. Rose was active in PTA at her children's schools during this time. Returning to the work force in 1970, she worked in the office for Stevedoring Services of America in the Los Angeles harbor area until her retirement in 1990. She then spent three years caring for her new grandson until fully retiring. She is survived by her son, Donald LaPlante; daughter, Sandra Carlson; son-in-law, Jeffrey Carlson and grandson, Scott Carlson. Services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. at the Mortuary Chapel 120 at Rose Hills in Whittier with burial following.

********** Published: September 11, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 21