Phillip Young Rowe

Phillip Young Rowe

Phillip Young Rowe died at the Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg Sunday, November 8, 2009. His death followed a six month battle with cancer.

Mr. Rowe was the son of the late John Down Rowe and his wife, the late Maude Young Rowe. He was born in Washington, D.C., on December 22, 1926. Mr. Rowe was a graduate of Charlotte Hall School in Maryland and also of the University of Maryland at College Park.

Phillip Rowe was an employee of the Indian Head branch of the Naval Surface Warfare Administration. While there, he was a member of the team which developed the "Smokey Sam" a device which was ultimately used in Naval combat. It was his privilege to visit all the NATO countries and to demonstrate to them the capabilities of this instrument.

In his retirement years, he lived near the village of King George with his wife, Yvonne, who survives him. Other survivors include his brother, Joseph Young Rowe of Orange; a nephew, Lieutenant Colonel David Harris Rowe of Falls Church; and a niece, Joyce Rowe Edwards of Newport, North Carolina.

Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Association.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.