Catherine Rowland

Catherine Griffith Rowland

August 31, 1935 - February 27, 2024

Catherine Griffith Rowland (Kay) went home to be with the Lord on February 27, 2024. She was a woman devoted to God, family, friends, and music, all of which gave her joy.

Kay was born and raised in Wyandotte, Michigan with her three sisters. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1953 and from Eastern Michigan University in 1957. She majored in early elementary education and special education. She then married her high school sweetheart Donald Dean Rowland (Don), a West Point graduate. Kay and Don were first stationed at Moore Air Base in Texas where Don was in flight training. They then traveled to Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma, and then McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita. They then moved to Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas where she began her life as an officer's wife serving as an active member of the Officer's Wives Club. In Arkansas, they had their first two children, Douglas Dean and Susan Knight. They then moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where Don received his master's degree in mathematics. After Michigan, they were stationed at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. At the Academy, they had their third child, Sarah Catherine. Following, they moved to six more locations including George Air Force Base in California, the Air Force Academy in Colorado during Don's service in the Vietnam War, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, and Yokota Air Force Base in Japan. In 1980, they were last stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc where they settled into retirement.

In Lompoc, Kay was active in her church for over 40 years serving on vestry, altar guild, and as a Stephen Minister. In addition, she was an accomplished duplicate bridge player, becoming a Life Master, and she sang as a soprano in the Lompoc Master Chorale.

In addition to being a faithful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Kay was blessed with many lifelong friendships which she treasured through her many travels, bible study groups, the bridge table, in the water aerobics pool, and in chorale.

Kay is survived by her husband, Donald Dean Rowland; three adult children: Douglas Dean (JoAnn), Susan Knight (Philip Salucci), and Sarah Catherine (Thomas Butler); sister, Carol E. Ferree; grandchildren, Luke Joseph Bishop (Alisha), Philip James Salucci, Wyatt Clark Bishop (Mackenzie), Jeffery Dean Salucci, Joel Christian Bishop, Daniel Dean Rowland, and David Dean Rowland; step grandchildren Tyler Jack Butler, Danielle Rae Butler, and Mitchell Theodore Butler; great grandchildren, Gary Emerson Bishop and Hank Clark Bishop; and many nieces and nephews. Kay was preceded in death by her mother, Catherine Challenger Griffith; father, Joseph James Griffith, Jr.; sister, Mary Sue Griffith King; sister, Anne Griffith Disch.

A celebration of life will be held on April 6, 2024 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church at 10am with a gathering to follow in Fitch Hall. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Lompoc Master Chorale at LVMC, P.O. Box 24, Lompoc, CA 93438.