Ronald E. Rowley

Hon. Ronald E. Rowley
of OneontaThe Hon. Ronald E. Rowley, 81, of Oneonta, died Saturday, June 8, 2002 at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. Judge Rowley was born on July 20, 1920 in Marvin Hollow, near Walton, N.Y. He was the son of Leon and Flora Benedict Rowley. He attended a one room school house in Marvin Hollow and was a graduate of Walton High School, Hartwick College and Syracuse University Law School. He and Marjorie Smith of West Oneonta, his beloved wife of 51 years, were married on June 26, 1950. During WWII, Judge Rowley left Hartwick College to enlist in the Army Air Force in 1942. He served as a first lieutenant in the 8th Air Force, flying 34 combat missions over Germany as a navigator-bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress from a base in England. His decorations included the Air Medal with five clusters and the Presidential Unit Citation Badge. Following the war, Judge Rowley returned to Hartwick College, graduating in 1946. He then attended Syracuse University Law School, graduating in 1949 and was admitted to the New York State Bar. He practiced law in Oneonta from 1949 to 1951, when he returned to active duty as an air judge advocate with the United States Air Forces in Europe, attaining the rank of captain. In 1952 he returned to the private practice of law in an office he opened on Dietz St. in Oneonta, adjacent to the medical practice of his brother, Dr. C. Douglas Rowley, who predeceased him. In 1959, he was elected Oneonta City Judge and served in that office until 1968. He was engaged in the private practice law in Oneonta until 1999, when he retired after a legal career of 50 years. Judge Rowley served as a member and Chairman of the Hartwick College Board of Trustees and as the College attorney. He was a past member of numerous civic and professional organizations, including Kiwanis, the board of directors of the Red Cross, the Hartwick College Citizens Board, the board of directors of the Oneonta Savings and Loan and the Oneonta, Otsego County, New York State and American Bar Associations. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church for over 50 years. Judge Rowley was also an avid artist, having studied with Emile Gruppe, Rockport, Mass. and Peter Ottzen, Oneonta. He was a private pilot, owning a plane for many years and obtaining a commercial pilot's license. He enjoyed gardening, hiking and fishing trips with his family. Judge Rowley is survived by his wife, Marjorie Smith Rowley; his three sons, Edward Rowley and his wife Jean Ghezzi, Niskayuna, William Rowley and his wife Jean, Brockport, and John Rowley and his wife Maureen, Cooperstown; and his brothers, the Rev. Donald Rowley, Nashua, N.H., and Dr. Durwood Rowley and his wife Shirley, Millis, Mass.; eight grandchildren, Adrienne, Kristina, Andrew, Lindsay, Laura, Hannah, Michael and Edward; 20 nieces and nephews; and seven sisters and brothers-in-law. Services will be held on Thursday, June 13, 2002 at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St., Oneonta. Calling hours will be on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bookhout Funeral Home, Main St., Oneonta. Interment will be at Glenwood Cemetery, Oneonta. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hartwick College, Oneonta, N.Y. 13820, or the First United Methodist Church, Chestnut St., Oneonta, N.Y. 13820.