Roy Thomas Rowland

Roy Thomas Rowland, 92 of Princeton, died of natural causes Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the Caldwell Medical Center.

Born July 6, 1926, Roy was the son of the late Roy Virgil Rowland and Tommye Austin Rowland, he is survived and deeply missed by his beloved wife of 70 years, Annie Louise Hobgood Rowland, his son Bradley Thomas Rowland, his daughters Ann Peyton Rowland Ellison and Gloria Joyce Rowland, grandchildren Bradley Warner Ellison, Taylor Franklin Ellison, Peyton Elizabeth Ann Ellison and Brenna Grace Rowland and great grandchild Joy Camielle Ellison.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Roy Irvin Rowland, his sisters Frances Evelyn Rowland Morgan and Adelene Mae Rowland Ratliff, and his brother Harold Wayne Rowland.

Like many past generations of his family, he was born and raised in the Princeton area.  Roy often recounted, with deep affection, his childhood friends and their adventures. His parents and other relatives were always mentioned with deep respect and love.

He left Caldwell County High to join the U.S. Navy during World War II and served honorably in the South Pacific. While the horrors of war were real and very impactful, he gained a fondness for Hawaii that never wavered. He read extensively about the Islands and had a love of Hawaiian music. After discharge, he worked in the Princeton-based family business, Rowland Motors, for several years. Later, he and his young family moved to Orange County, California.  There they enjoyed the mountains, beaches, sailing and riding dune buggy's as well as his continuous employment as a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.  After retirement, he and Louise returned to Kentucky and settled into a peaceful life on Lake Beshear with great neighbors and frequent family visitors.

Formal services are not planned but expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to an appropriate veteran’s charity.