James Rowand

ROWAND, James George
Dr. James George Rowand, O.D., F.A.A.O. received his last posting on November 12, 2012 and has been called by his maker.
Lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his wife, Elaine; three sons, David (Linda) of Edmonton, Thomas (Deborah) of St. Albert, James (Estelle) of Edmonton; stepchildren, Lois of Calgary, Geoffrey (Jane) of Edmonton, Tracy (Michael) of Kelowna; sister, Phyllis of Calgary; four grandsons, four granddaughters and six great-granddaughters.
Jim was predeceased by his first wife, Evelyn in 1980; sisters, Beth in 1990, June in 2005; brother, Allen in 1952; son, Scott in 2011. He is also remembered by a host of friends and relatives scattered throughout North America.
He was born in Bethune, Saskatchewan, December 9, 1917. Jim received his primary education there and following matriculation spent a year at commercial high school in Regina. He moved to Hamilton, Ontario in 1938, where he worked until WWII. Jim enlisted in the R.C.A.F. in 1940 and was posted to Manning Pool and ITS in Toronto, elementary flying training in Prince Albert, service flying in Dauphin from where he graduated with commission as a pilot and was posted directly overseas, arriving in Liverpool on December 31, 1941.
Jim's operational training was at Catfoss and he crewed with Donald Knights and Chips Davey flying Blenheims and was posted to 404 Buffalo Squadron at Aberdeen, Scotland with 18 Costal Group in operations over the North Sea, Norway and Sweden. The Squadron switched to Beaufighters and eventually Mosquitoes. After completing his first tour, he was posted back to Canada. Jim was rewarded a DFC for shipping strikes over the North Sea. He was posted to 164 at Moncton and later to Sea Island 165 Vancouver flying Loadstars and DC3's, finishing his tour at Edmonton flying freight and passengers to Whitehorse and the Northwest Territories.
In September 1945, he moved to Toronto taking his discharge from the R.C.A.F. to attend the Ontario College of Optometry, graduating with honors in 1948. He returned to Edmonton where he practiced for forty-five years. Jim was a senior partner in the Optometrists Clinic and was made a lifetime member of the Alberta Association of Optometrists. He was also a member of the Contact Lens section of the American Academy of Optometry and of the National Eye Research Co.
Jim was the past President of the Rotary Club of Edmonton West, 700 Wing, R.C.A.F. Association and the Canukeena Club. He was a member of the Marching and Chowder Society, Branch 28 Canadian Legion Lac La Biche, the 418 Squadron Foundation and Riverbend United Church.
He made a decision to practice in Edmonton because of the University of Alberta location and was very proud of his sons for graduating with two degrees from the University. His first wife; Evelyn received a Ph. D. in History, Elaine received a B. Sc in Nursing, his stepchildren, Geoffrey in Law, Lois and Tracy in Nursing, his grandchildren; Frazer, Danielle and Grady in Law, Kevin in Commerce, Carcey in Environmental Agriculture and Zach, Kayla and Jordan are continuing studies.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on November 24, 2012 at the Riverbend United Church, 14907 - 45 Avenue N.W., Edmonton, AB.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in Jim's honor may be made to the Rotary Club of Edmonton West Foundation, P.O. Box 34027, RPO Kingsway Mall, Edmonton, AB, T5G 3G4.