For many, if you knew Bill Roseberry, you also knew of Charlie Casey. The two were inseparable as pals in their younger days, both having worked together at the old Mohican Market in Easton, Pa. The advent of World War II, December 7, 1941, eventually caused that friendship to suffer disaster.

Charlie was called into active service with the U.S. Army on December 7, 1942. Bill entered the U.S Navy in February of 1943 and more than a year later, Bill wrote, what was to be his letter to Charlie, a mere 22 days before Charlie was killed in action, December 16, 1944, on the island of Leyte in the Philippines. Due to slow mail delivery during war-time, especially in battle zones, Charlie never received it and the letter was returned to Bill.
(To read the text of this letter, Click Here)

Bill, of course, was to learn of Charlie's death and that they would never see each other alive again. Bill found it most difficult to cope with the death of Charlie and sought the pastorial care of his Naval Chaplain, in order to express his sympathy and condolences to Charlie's mother, Mrs. Veronica P. Casey. (To read the text of this letter, Click Here)

Bill had never forgot his fallen friend and comrade and always made sure that others remembered him as well. To that end, and as a tribute to Charlie, Bill and Eleanor named their second son in memory of Charlie, hence, Charles B. "Chuck" Roseberry.

In 1948, Charlie's remains were returned home from Leyte and were re-interred in St. Philip & St. James Cemetery in Greenwich Township, Warren County, NJ. Beginning that year, and on each subsequent Memorial Day thereafter, until recent years when it became too difficult for Bill to continue, he took the time to remember and pay tribute to Charlie by personally placing flowers on Charlie's grave.

The entire extended Casey family offers their heartfelt sympathy to the Roseberry family during this time of sadness and loss of their husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle, Bill Roseberry. We too share your loss, as Bill always held a special place in our family and our hearts.

This page is dedicated to the memory of Bill Roseberry, with the hope that God, in His Divine goodness, has re-united Bill and Charlie in His Heavenly Kingdom. Amen!