Lt. Col. John E. Rowland US Army (Ret.)

Lt. Col. John E. Rowland US Army (Ret.)

Lieutenant Colonel John E. Rowland, Medical Service Corps, United States Army, Retired, died at his home in Silver Spring Township on Sunday, December 18, 2016. Born in Altoona, PA in 1930, he was the son of the late Gertrude and James (Frank) Rowland. He was a 1948 graduate of Altoona High School, a graduate of the University of Nebraska and earned a Masters degree in Hospital Administration in 1965 from Baylor University, Waco, Texas. Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the US Army as a private and earned an officer's commission four years later.

His active military service of 22 years included overseas duty in Korea, Japan, Germany and the Dominican Republic. He was the Director of the Division of Emergency Health Services, PA Department of Health from 1969 to 1976. He also served as a Health Care Advocate for the PA Department of Aging from 1980 to 1981. He volunteered to deliver meals on wheels in the Dillsburg area, served as Commander of Carlisle Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans and served as Township Supervisor in Silver Spring Township from 1982 to 1989. John was a Fellow in the American College of Hospital Administrators, served on various state government committees and task forces and various statewide and national professional organizations. He was a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America and the Disabled American Veterans.

John was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy (Dottie) Rowland and by a grandson Casey Clark. Surviving is his wife Mary (Rase) Rowland, two daughters Donna M. Keintz of Mechanicsburg, Karen Kovacs (Don) of Carlisle, a son James K. Rowland of Mechanicsburg, a brother Tom of Houston, TX, two sisters Elizabeth Orrick of Indianapolis and Helen Rees of Naples, FL. Also surviving is a stepson John Rase of Perry County, two step daughters Edna Ann Crawford (Rick) of Siler City, NC and Nancy Sue Rase of Anapolis, MD, 7 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 11:30 AM Thursday, December 22, 2016 at Shepherdstown United Methodist Church, Mechanicsburg with viewing held from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. Burial with full military honors will take place at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be sent to Hospice of Central PA, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or to the ALS Association, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002. www.MalpezziFuneralHome.com