Joan Barrett Roosa

Joan Barrett Roosa, age 73, of Gulfport, died Tuesday, October 30, 2007 in Gulfport, MS. Mrs. Roosa was born May 23, 1934, in Booneville, MS to Dr. and Mrs. J. T. Barrett. She was married to Col. Stuart A. Roosa, Apollo 14 astronaut. One of the many wonderful moments of her life was witnessing his mission to the moon in 1971, after which she traveled with her husband and children to the White House to attend a State Dinner and was guest of President Nixon at Camp David. Mrs. Roosa graduated from Tupelo High School. She attended Ole Miss where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority, graduating later from MUW with a degree in history. She also enjoyed at the “W” membership in the Blacklist Honorary Society Club. She belonged to the Four Seasons Garden Club (Past President), and the Gulfport Yacht Club, where she was a member and past-president of the Ladies' Auxiliary. Mrs. Roosa was an adventurer and world traveler, having visited every continent but Antarctica and traveled to over 60 countries, having lived in Japan and Greece. She was a hunter and member of the prestigious Shikar-Safari Club, having been to Africa on safari several times. She traveled with the Astronaut-Cosmonaut group of the Association of Space Explorers. She met dignitaries, royalty, and celebrities in her travels and represented her southern roots with charm and grace. Mrs. Roosa was an accomplished epicurean. She studied cooking and would absorb the culture and cuisine in the places she lived. She derived great pleasure from entertaining friends and family with the gourmet meals she prepared. Other than her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, John T. Barrett, Jr. and her sister, Mrs. Jack Reese. She is survived by her daughter, Rosemary D. Roosa, of Biloxi, MS; Christopher A. Roosa, of Arlington, VA; Mr. and Mrs. John D. Roosa, of Tucson, AZ; Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Allen Roosa, Jr. of Winter Springs, FL; five grandchildren; and her sister, Mrs. Knox White of Gulfport, MS; and Ann Powell, her longtime caregiver. Visitation will be held at Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home on 15th Street in Gulfport, MS on Friday, November 2, 2007 where friends may attend from 3 - 5 P.M. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.