Warren Elwood Rowe Sr.

ROWE, Warren Elwood Sr., age 85, passed away on Monday, April 19, 2010. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Lillian M. Rowe. He is survived by his children, Mary Susan Rowe and Warren E. Rowe Jr.; his grandsons, Forrest Peyton Rowe and Fletcher Andrew Rowe; and their mother, Roberta E. Rowe. A native of Baltimore, Md., he grew up in Middlesex County and has made Richmond his home since 1942. A World War II veteran, he served three years in the U.S. Navy. He proudly served on the USS Poseidon and participated in the Okinawa Campaign to end the war in 1945. A graduate of the University of Richmond, he joined Southern States Cooperative in 1949 and was employed there for 37 years. During his career, he held several posts in the Co-op's corporate communications department ranging from field editor to editor of the Pacesetter for 22 years to editor of the Southern Statesman, an employee publication, for 10 years. From 1948 until 1951, he was a boating columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and later an editor of the Virginia Legionnaire (published by the Virginia Department of the American Legion). For many years, he served on the board of directors of the Cooperative Editorial Association. Additionally, he was a member of the Richmond Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators and Richmond American Legion Post 84. Warren was passionate about his beloved Trinity United Methodist Church, its members and his many friends. He served as treasurer of the Mastin Bible Class for over 30 years. A celebration of Warren's life will be held on April 21, at 1 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 903 Forest Ave., Richmond, Va. 23229. The family will receive friends at the conclusion of the service. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Chris Desch Foundation, P.O. Box 8467, Richmond, Va. 23226, or The Trinity Foundation, c/o Trinity United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.woodyfuneralhomeparham.com



This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.