ROSE'S FATHER

In this movie, he was one of the most cussedest old farts I've ever seen!
While he clearly loved his granddaughters ("Hello, sweethearts."), it's also clear that he had no affection for his daughter (who was probably his only child).
In fact, I don't doubt that he blamed Rose for his wife's abandonment (had he ever looked in a mirror?).
He was content just to be shoehorned into a bland life, and had no aspirations at all.
At the end, I was glad that Rose pawned his gold award.

I suppose Rose's character was shaped by both her mother's desertion and her father's orneriness.
She was determined not to let anyone get in the way of her dreams and ambitions; unfortunately, that attitude cost her the love of her daughters.

BTW, in the made-for-TV version starring Bette Midler, Ed Asner played the grandfather, and showed much more softness in the character.