Name: Visitation for Raymond Allen Rowden
Start: 2019-05-10T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-05-11T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Staab Funeral Home - Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Raymond Allen Rowden, 79, of Springfield passed away at 3:10 p.m. Saturday, May 4, 2019, at his home.

He was born Dec. 2, 1939, to James Dale Rowden and Carol (Hughes) Rowden, and they preceded him in death. He married Elizabeth L. "Betty" Gallina on Oct. 15, 1960.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth;, three children, Raymond "Todd" (LaDonna) Rowden of Sherman, Michael Dale (significant other, Stacy Manion) of Springfield and Christopher Allen (Laura) of Chatham; and seven grandchildren, Nicholas, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Sean, Mariah, Elizabeth and Haylie Rowden.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Raymond graduated in 1959 from Franklin High School, went on to Springfield Barber College and opened a barber shop in Loami. While raising his family, Raymond held various positions as an insurance salesman, bread deliveryman, meat cutter and truck driver (P.H. Broughton and Sangamon County). He changed career paths and went to work for the Secretary of State. Raymond pursued and obtained a certificate from Lincoln Land Community College's Power Plant Maintenance Technology Program, after which he was promoted to stationary engineer. He retired from the Secretary of State's office in 2002.

He also was very involved in his community. Raymond was elected alderman for the City of Springfield, serving from 1991 to 1999. He served on the Springfield Civil Service Commission from 2007 to 2019. In addition to local politics, Raymond was a member of several car clubs (Route 66 Cruisers, Vintage Times and Hudson Essex Terraplane Club), Boy Scouts of America, Knights of Columbus, St. Paul's Lodge #500, Illinois Right to Life and the Illinois State Rifle Association. He also was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church in Rochester.

A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 11, 2019, at St. Jude Church in Rochester with the Rev. Brian Alford officiating. Burial will follow at Sulphur Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2019, at Staab Funeral Home in Springfield and from 10 a.m. Saturday until the time of the Mass at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Animal Protective League, American Diabetes Association or American Heart Association. Share stories, pictures, Facebook and Twitter at Staabfamily.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Jacksonville Journal-Courier on May 7, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Raymond Rowden

14 Entries

Rockey

May 11, 2019

Mikey and family; what a great guy. Sorry for your loss. Ray knew what was important and lived a life to reflect so. Faith, family, and friends ... our community was blessed by his service; his warmth, and he will be missed.

Ken Oglesby

May 8, 2019

Betty and Family,

My sincere condolences to the entire Rowden family on the passing of Ray. He was a good friend over many years. Although we didn't see each other very often, Ray always had a smile on his face and always glad to see you. He will be missed by all who knew him. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Lisa Hirstein-Hughes

May 8, 2019

Mike and family,

So sorry to hear of your dad's passing. My thoughts & prayers are with you and your family.

Dad and his 1936 Hudson Terraplane Pickup; he always loved the classics

Raymond (Todd) Rowden

May 8, 2019

So sorry to hear about Ray's passing, prayers to the family.

Betsy (Rowden) Bisby

Joanne Gaston

May 8, 2019

Ray and Ladonna and family, I am so very sorry to hear of your father's passing. Our prayers are with you.

May 8, 2019

Rowden family, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
The Withers Family, Loami

KEVIN DAVLIN

May 8, 2019

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I am sorry I cannot make it there as I am in Centtral America.

Will sure miss the great times we had together in Ireland.

Kevin Davlin

Danny Scarlett

May 7, 2019

Betty, Mike, Todd and Chris, I am so sorry to hear of Ray's passing. I will always remember him for his warmth, friendship and sense of humor. I will never forget working with him on campaigns including his first one for alderman. I will never forget his friendship and the things he taught me about running campaigns. I remember him being with me the night I won my campaign for committeeman. I know how much you all meant to him and my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Sherry Hamilton

May 7, 2019

I have met Ray many times throughout my life, my late mother was a very good friend of Rays as they both were from Franklin and were the "Flashes". Our family has the highest respect for Ray. I will always remember his warm smile, he never met a stranger. Great guy, will be missed by everyone that knew him. My sincere condolences to his family.

Rhinda Shearl Fairless

May 7, 2019

Deepest sympathy to the family

American Heart Association

May 7, 2019

May your memories of the wonderful times you shared with your loved one comfort you and your family, today and always.

Showing 1 - 14 of 14 results