Funeral services for Mr. Oswell J. Rousseau, age 93, of Carthage, TX, will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. William Everett and Rev. Steve Jackson officiating. Interment will follow at Welch Cemetery in the Brachfield Community of Rusk County, TX. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Mr. Rousseau passed away on Sat. afternoon, March 27, 2010, in Carthage.

Oswell J. Rousseau was born on Nov. 2, 1916, in the Woodglen/Brachfield Community in Rusk County, the eighth of nine children of James Henry "Sogue" and Georgia Eliza Welch Rousseau. He attended Woodglen, Patrick, Minden, and New London schools. He served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII as a supply sergeant with the 1251st Combat Engineers Battalion in England, France, and Belgium. He attained the rank of Tech Sgt. before being honorably discharged on Dec. 4, 1945. He married Lois Coleman on Sept. 14, 1944, in Houston, TX. Mr. Rousseau owned and operated Terminix Pest Control in Lake Charles and Baton Rouge for 22 years. While in South Louisiana, he was a member and deacon of Weller Ave. Baptist Church in Baton Rouge. He was also a member of the Rotary Club in Lake Charles. In 1973, he and Lois moved back to Carthage from Lake Charles, after selling his pest control business. He later retired from Buddies Winn-Dixie in Carthage as department manager in hardware. Mr. Rousseau was a member of Central Baptist Church in Carthage, where he was also a member of the Adult VI Sunday School Class. In 2006, he was given the Volunteer of the Year Award by Mission Carthage, a local mission that he has strongly supported. Mr. Rousseau was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 59 years; and seven siblings.

Mr. Rousseau is survived by his sister, Thelma Rousseau Little of Henderson; and many nieces and nephews and their children. His life, over the past several years, has been strongly enhanced by friends and caregivers, Robert and Hazel Pope of Carthage, who also survive Mr. Rousseau as part of his extended family.

Serving as pallbearers are Ralph Marshall, Jim Huff, John Crisp, Jerry Hanszen, Jerry Bazer, and Al Loofboro.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are the Adult VI Sunday School Class at Central Baptist Church.

If desired, memorials may be made to Central Baptist Church, 220 W. Sabine, Carthage, TX 75633, Mission Carthage, 940 E. Sabine, Carthage, TX 75633, or Gideon's Intl., c/o Mr. Jerry Stacy, 686 CR 106, Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.