Russell Heavilin Rowe Jr.
– July 23, 2018
Russell Heavilin Rowe Jr., 94, died July 23, 2018, in Sun City Center, Florida. Surviving are daughter MaryAnn; sons W. Douglas (wife Margaret) and Edgar S. (wife Donna); grandchildren Blake Alan, Brandy Nicole and Sean Douglas; and great-grandson Barry Allen.
Russell was born in Lepanto, Arkansas, but spent the majority of his childhood and adolescence in Florence, Alabama. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy training sailors to aim and shoot the 50 caliber machine guns on aircraft. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Alabama in 1948 and a Masters of Social Work from Vanderbilt University in 1950. That same year he married Hester Ann Hare. Their marriage lasted 65 years ending with her death in 2015. For 26 years, Russell served in the U.S. Army as a Psychiatric Social Worker, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1972. After retiring he worked for Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital in Medford, Oregon.
In college Russell played both basketball (shortest player on the team) and tennis (making the Southeast Regional). But for most of his adult life, Russell was an avid golfer playing 18 holes two to three times a week up to the week before his death. Next to golf, Russell loved to travel and had visited all 50 states and U.S. territories, Canada, Mexico, South America, Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Europe, Guam and Samoa. Russell thoroughly enjoyed people and was well-known for his wit and humor.
A memorial reception was held on August 1, in the Aston Gardens ballroom, Sun City Center. He credits much of his success in life to the encouragement and support he received during his two undergraduate years at Florence State College (now University of Northern Alabama) and would like to see others receive like positive support.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Memorial contributions to the University of Northern Alabama Foundation (In Memory of Russell Rowe), UNA Box, Florence, AL 35632, would be appreciated.
Russell was born in Lepanto, Arkansas, but spent the majority of his childhood and adolescence in Florence, Alabama. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy training sailors to aim and shoot the 50 caliber machine guns on aircraft. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Alabama in 1948 and a Masters of Social Work from Vanderbilt University in 1950. That same year he married Hester Ann Hare. Their marriage lasted 65 years ending with her death in 2015. For 26 years, Russell served in the U.S. Army as a Psychiatric Social Worker, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1972. After retiring he worked for Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital in Medford, Oregon.
In college Russell played both basketball (shortest player on the team) and tennis (making the Southeast Regional). But for most of his adult life, Russell was an avid golfer playing 18 holes two to three times a week up to the week before his death. Next to golf, Russell loved to travel and had visited all 50 states and U.S. territories, Canada, Mexico, South America, Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Europe, Guam and Samoa. Russell thoroughly enjoyed people and was well-known for his wit and humor.
A memorial reception was held on August 1, in the Aston Gardens ballroom, Sun City Center. He credits much of his success in life to the encouragement and support he received during his two undergraduate years at Florence State College (now University of Northern Alabama) and would like to see others receive like positive support.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Memorial contributions to the University of Northern Alabama Foundation (In Memory of Russell Rowe), UNA Box, Florence, AL 35632, would be appreciated.