Robert S. Rosenberry
Cite this Page
"Robert S. Rosenberry," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/997.
- Position
- Chauffeur
- Years in President's House
- 1942 – 1945
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Biography
- Robert Stanley Rosenberry was born on July 31, 1922, in Upper Strasburg, Pennsylvania. (1) In 1940, he joined the U.S. Army and served with the War Department motor pool, driving “some of the most important military leaders of World War II” including generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and George S. Patton. (2) In the summer of 1942, he was transferred to the White House Garage, which fell under the purview of the U.S. Army. (3) Initially, he drove for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s military aide Edwin “Pa” Watson, who Rosenberry called “the toughest person at the White House to drive for.” Rosenberry was later removed from Watson’s detail and instead drove for White House guests including Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and actress Jeanette MacDonald, who visited the capital to participate in a war bond drive. He recalled that “everyone connected with the White House was a very close-knit family” and “you couldn’t find nicer people to work for than the Roosevelts.” (4)
Rosenberry left the White House upon being discharged from the Army in October 1945, and moved to Letterkenny, Pennsylvania to work as a security guard. He spent the rest of his career in law enforcement there, eventually becoming police chief. He retired in 1980 and was active in his local Masonic lodge, the Cavalry United Methodist Church, and several veterans organizations. Rosenberry died on September 28, 2013 and was buried at Upper Strasburg Methodist Church Cemetery in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. (5) - (1) “Robert S. Rosenberry,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/260916270/robert-s.-rosenberry; Robert Stanley Rosenberry in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For District of Columbia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 196, Ancestry.com; “Robert Rosenberry,” Public Opinion (Chambersburg, PA), October 1, 2013, pg. 4.
(2) Jim Beckmann, “Depot Top Cop Wheeled ‘Wheels’,” Kenny Letter (Chambersburg, PA), April 17, 1979, pg. 5.
(3) "Roster of White House Employees, Revised, April 1, 1944," Folder: Investigative Case Files, 1934-1945, Records of the United States Secret Service, 1933-1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York; “Robert Rosenberry,” Public Opinion (Chambersburg, PA), October 1, 2013, pg. 4.
(4) Jim Beckmann, “Depot Top Cop Wheeled ‘Wheels’,” Kenny Letter (Chambersburg, PA), April 17, 1979, pg. 5.
(5) Ibid; “Robert Rosenberry,” Public Opinion (Chambersburg, PA), October 1, 2013, pg. 4. - Birthplace
- Upper Strasburg, Pennsylvania, USA