Carroll W. ROWLAND

WILLIAMSBURG - Carroll W. Rowland, 70, of Williamsburg, died peacefully in his home on Dec. 1, 2009.
He was born May 24, 1939, in Waynesville, N.C., the youngest son of Woodrow and Pauline Rowland. He married Shirley Trammell Rowland, also of Waynesville, in 1960, and then moved to Newport News, Va., to attend the NASA apprentice school. He graduated in 1964, and began working for NASA, where he worked for 36 years, retiring in 1995. He ran a successful electronics repair business for many years, and he was also known for his carpentry and home repair skills. He built several homes and owned a steel frame construction company for several years. He won numerous top awards in the 1997 Parade of Homes for his steel-construction home.
During his career at NASA, he worked on numerous space flight programs, including the Mars Viking Lander mission, which included a one-year assignment at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., in 1976. He was also an integration manager for the Lidar In-space Technology Experiment, which flew on the space shuttle Discovery in 1994. Carroll received numerous superior accomplishment awards, including the prestigious NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 1993.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; two daughters, Cara Rowland Grant and Tanya Rowland Williamson; two sons-in-law, Dr. Michael Grant and Keith Williamson; and five grandchildren, Rachel Grant, Hayley Williamson, Katelyn Grant, Benjamin Williamson, and Jacob Williamson. He is also survived by his mother, Pauline Rowland; and four siblings, Wayne Rowland, Jean Rowland Sparks Thomas, Jennings Rowland, and Betty Rowland.
Carroll loved the Lord Jesus very much, and was a member of Crosswalk Community Church, where he volunteered many hours of his time assisting with building repairs and renovation. He was unabashedly a man of courage and faith, and often encouraged his physicians and nurses to believe in the Lord Jesus.
Carroll, or "Papaw" as he was known to many, will be fondly remembered for his sense of humor, his tenacious love for life, and his devotion to his wife and family. All who knew them were impacted by Carroll and Shirley's love for one another. Nothing made Carroll any happier than to be surrounded by his grandchildren. They have many happy memories of being with their Nana and Papaw at the beach, the neighborhood pool, Disney World, and many occasions at home playing pool, having cookouts, and playing games together.
In celebration of his life, a funeral service will be held on Monday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. at Crosswalk Community Church, 7575 Richmond Rd., Norge. Friends and family will be received the evening before from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg. Online condolences may be expressed at www.nelsencares.com. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.