Rosemary Bachle

Rosemary Eckroat Bachle, devoted wife and mother, died peacefully Tuesday, November 14 at the age of 95. Rosemary was born in Jones, OK to Mary Alice Hall Eckroat and William M. Eckroat September 29, 1922. She graduated from Central High School in 1939. Rosemary began college studies at Oklahoma City University, but she was lured away by the love of her life, Leonard Lawrence Bachle, whom she married in 1940 at the age of nineteen. Rosemary and Leonard had met while singing in the choir at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. When Leonard was called away to serve in the Army during World War II, Rosemary, now a mother of two girls, became an officer in the "Bring Back Daddy" club in Oklahoma. Eventually, she and the girls spent time with Leonard when he was billeted in Baltimore, MD. After the war, Leonard returned to work in the family business, Oklahoma Wire and Iron, with his brothers and father. Rosemary had four more children (three girls and a boy), while also participating in the Mrs. America contest in 1956, teaching millinery (hat making), earning her license as a realtor becoming one of the first female licensed brokers in Oklahoma City, and all while making prom and graduation dresses, square dancing with Leonard, traveling, and caring for a family of eight. Rosemary once said that she was in the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) for 33 years. She was a very busy lady. In the 1980's, Rosemary returned to college after a 40 year hiatus; she earned her bachelor's degree from Oklahoma City University in 1994, at the age of 72. A champion of women's contributions, especially in wartime, Rosemary researched and wrote their stories in a book, Women's War Memoirs, published in 1999. In 2000, Rosemary was honored by National Blue Cross and Blue Shield as an "Ageless Hero." Rosemary and Leonard founded their own family businesses, Bachle Fireplace Equipment Company and Bachle Realty where they worked together every day for many decades. They were married for 68 years. Rosemary attended Christ the King Catholic church, where she sang in the choir. Not only a singer and published author, she was a poet, an award-winning painter of oriental brushwork, a businesswoman, a lover of travel, good company, and a passionate booster for Oklahoma City and Oklahoma culture. She spent her last years at Concordia Life Care Community. She is predeceased by her loving husband, Leonard, and her two brothers, William M. Eckroat III and Arthur Eckroat. She is survived by her six children, Rosellen Burton of Piedmont, OK; Elaine Dodson of Broken Arrow, OK; Mary Hunter, of Boquete, Panama; Larry Bachle, of Nakomis, Fl; Barbara Bain, of Wellston, OK; and Laura Bachle of Alexandria, VA; and by fifteen grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Christ the King Catholic Church or the Alzheimer's Association (Alzheimer's Oklahoma, 2448 E. 81st., Ste 3000, Tulsa, OK 74137.)