Mary G (Morgan) Rowan (1921 - 2013)

Born 15 Jun 1921 in Geraldine, DeKalb, Alabama, United States

Died 22 Oct 2013 at age 92 in Houston, Harris, Texas, United States

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Biography

Obituary Mary G. Rowan June 15, 1921 - October 22, 2013

Mary Rowan, nee Morgan, age 92, left her earthly life on October 22, 2013, in Houston, Texas.

She was born June 15, 1921, in Geraldine, Alabama, to Alma Cole Tompkins and William David Morgan.

After graduating from Geraldine High School, she went to Maryville College, in Maryville, Tennessee. She transferred to the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in her junior year. Majoring in biology and pre-med she took her senior year at the South Highlands Infirmary in Birmingham, Alabama, as a lab and x-ray technician.

During these years she met a young aviator, Dolphus Edward Rowan, from Gadsden, Alabama. In May 1943 Mary rode a train from Alabama to Alpine, Texas, where Dolph was stationed as an Army Air Corps pilot. They were married on May 4, 1943, and shortly after, Dolph shipped out overseas where he flew 25 missions as a B-17 pilot.

After the war Mary and Dolph moved to Florida where their daughter was born. When Dolph became a pilot for American Airlines, the family moved to Boston, transferring later to Texas, residing first in Dallas, then in Grapevine.

As the wife of an airline pilot, Mary enjoyed the wonders of travel, both domestically and overseas, with trips to Argentina, China and Russia among her favorites. After Dolph's retirement, he and Mary moved to Denton, Texas, where they lived until his death in June 2008.

In April 2009 Mary moved to Houston, Texas, to be near her daughter and grandchildren. She spent her last years peacefully and very happily in the assisted living at the Buckingham. Wherever she lived, Mary was active in her community, being involved in the Arts Guild, the Women's Club, the American Airlines Flight Wives' Club, and the Camp Fire Girls as a troop leader. As a member of Denton First Baptist, she formed lasting friendships with those in the Early Bird's Sunday School class. For many years she and Dolph also volunteered at the Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home in Denton . Above all, Mary was the epitome of the gracious, Southern hostess. Warm, friendly, never negative or unkind, she welcomed everyone with a smile. She always believed that "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." She will be particularly remembered at the Buckingham for her cheerful greeting to both residents and care givers, "Howdy Doody."

Mary is survived by her daughter, P Vassilakidis, and spouse, A Vassilakidis, and two grandchildren, S Vassilakidis and A Vassilakidis. And of course, her famously fat feline companion, Snowy.

Mary will be buried with Dolphus, her cherished husband of 65 years, in the Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery in Arlington, Texas, at 11:15 on Tuesday, October 29, 2013.

Visitation will be on Monday, October 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mulkey-Mason funeral home in Denton, Texas. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 11:15 A.M. at the DFW National Cemetery in Dallas, TX with Rev. Cliff Feeler, officiating.

(Published by Mulkey Mason Family of Funeral Homes, October 26, 2013)

FAG https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119309500/mary-g-rowan

Family Search Mary G Morgan GMPX-ZWY birth: 15 June 1921, Geraldine, DeKalb, Alabama, United States burial: 2013, Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States death: 22 October 2013, Houston, Harris, Texas, United States father: William David Morgan KCV2-9BZ mother: Alma Cole Tompkins LV7F-CZY spouse: Dolphus Edward Rowan GMPX-4JY

Sources

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