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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
William David
Rowland
September 16, 1938 – January 12, 2021
The Funeral Service will be Live streamed from Montlawn Funeral Home - Click Here
- Will be viewable and Active on 2/04/21 - 15 Minuets before the service and will be available to re-watch at any time.
William D. Rowland 82, passed away on January 12, 2021. He is survived by his brother, James Rowland; his three daughters, Katie Glennon and her husband, Tom; Susan Krukowski and her husband, Zig; and Megan Rowland; and four grandchildren, Ryan, Michael, Zoe and Grace. He is preceded in death by his parents Erwin and Imelda Rowland and his wife, Maureen. As a Georgetown graduate Bill completed Officer Candidate School and served as an intelligence officer during the Vietnam war. He was a loving husband and father, a sincere patriot, an avid historian and a perpetual cheerleader for the underdog. Always the gentleman, Bill was quick with a smile and easily offered a kind word. He will truly be missed. Joint services will be held for Bill and Maureen on February 4, in Raleigh, NC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Transitions LifeCare; 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Memories of My Father
– from his daughter Katie
I look at my father and I see his wide smiling face with squinting twinkling eyes and head thrown back laughing at or
telling a joke.
I see the glint in his eyes when he knew someone baked chocolate chip cookies,
And I see the pride in his eyes when hearing about his children or grandchildren.
I hear his voice and remember the words of advice or the quotes he enjoyed to share from authors or statesmen or
retelling stories from history of events and people.
-Telling the story of being frustrated as a child in not having enough time to read all the books written and catch up on
history since it was always being made.
-His memories of his father or his own family history.
And singing everything from Irish ballads to hokey country songs.
I look at his grandsons and I see his solid shoulders and remember receiving big warm hugs in his arms and finding
comfort in that welcoming lap late at night as a teenager during times of inner confusion.
I look at his hands and remember his woodworking projects – a desk for me and a swing set for his grandchildren and
the enjoyment I found in the smell of sawdust and quiet companionship working alongside him and building my own
project.
And I always see his hands holding a book and the sound of his voice sharing his interest in whatever he was reading or
standing next to him in the kitchen and watching his hands as he showed me how to make his favorite Mexican foods.
And I will always remember the light and love in his face whenever he saw my mom during her many visits to spend time
with him, even if it was to just sit and hold hands.
My mom gave my dad a plaque one year for Father's Day that he kept for many years – a poem by Robert Louis
Stevenson and it rings true very much for my dad –
"That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men
and women and the love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
who leaves the world better than he found it, who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it;
who looked for the best in others, and the gave the best he had."
Dad, you gave the best you had. I know you were welcomed into the wide open arms of mom and you too heard the
words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
It's time for you to rest now joined together forever with mom. We love you very much and look forward to being
together once again.
Memorial Service
Montlawn Funeral Home Chapel
2:00 - 2:30 pm
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