Dale Smith Rowsey

Livestream of Funeral Service

Dale Smith Rowsey, age 87, passed away Sunday, June 2, 2024 at Christian Care of Medina, Tennessee.

Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at Wells Funeral Home. A celebration of Dale's life will begin at 12 Noon in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home followed by the interment at Forrest Memorial Park in Batesville, MS.

He was born February 20, 1937, in Panola County to the late Edward L. Rowsey and Martha Smith Rowsey. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Batesville, MS where he taught a Senior Men's Sunday School class until he became ill. He was an Ordained Deacon and also taught in children divisions, youth, college and career, and adult Bible classes wherever he was living. He went into the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Batesville High School and later graduated from Memphis State with a degree in Chemistry. After graduation, he worked with Quaker Oats Co, and held roles at the chemical plant in Memphis, TN, the lab at the pet food division in Pascagoula, MS/Marion, OH, and a management position with responsibilities for plants in Pekin, IL, Oakland, CA, and Indianapolis, IN. After retiring from Quaker, he took a job with Red Gold Tomato Processing Plant in Elwood, IN. His final employment was in Jacksonville, FL helping a friend start his own business. A year later he was ready to retire for good, and he moved back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast but after several years of preparing for hurricanes he decided to move farther inland which was back to home. He then fulfilled his hopes and dreams of planting a large garden, taking up Crappie Fishing on Enid Lake, and spending more time visiting and enjoying his grandchildren. He enjoyed reading when he could find time.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a brother, Lee Rowsey.

His loving and caring memory will be cherished by his wife of 67 years, Joan Carlini Rowsey; his daughter, Becky Rowsey Lemke of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and his son, Keith Rowsey (April) of Jackson, TN. He is also survived by his sister Kay Cook (Charlie) of Courtland, MS, and his brother, Dan Rowsey (Cindy) of Oxford, MS, and sister-in-law, Kathleen Rowsey of Batesville, MS. He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren Troy Lemke, Renee Lemke Durbin (Ridge), Laura Lemke, Elizabeth Rowsey, and Dean Rowsey.

He was loved and respected by many and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Remembered in Love - I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that memorials in Dale's name may go to the First Baptist Church of Batesville, 104 Panola Ave. Batesville, MS 38606 or to St. Jude’s's Children's Research Hospital.