Rowden, William 'Bill'

William “Bill” Rowden, 88, of Shellsburg, formerly of Urbana, died peacefully at his home Thursday, May 16, 2013. Graveside services: 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at the Urbana Cemetery, Urbana, conducted by the Rev. Mike Ellson. Military honors will be provided by Shellsburg American Legion Post 166. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Center Point. A luncheon will be held at the Shellsburg American Legion Hall immediately following the graveside service.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Helen Rowden of Shellsburg; children, Sherry (Tom) Williams of Center Point, Gary (Cheryl) Rowden of Marshall, Ark., Gale (Janine) Rowden of Shellsburg and Robert (Sherri) Rowden of Urbana; grandchildren, Kim Hotchkiss, Jason Williams, Bobby Rowden, Whitney Stout, Charitey Rowden, Wade Rowden and Steve Hughes; 11 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Fred (Martha) Rowden of Indiana, Ellen (Keith) Sacora of Marion, Iowa and Betty Noe of California.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Leo, Eleanor, Floyd, Rosie and Don.

Bill was born Feb. 2, 1925, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, son of Roy and Vina (Long) Rowden. He worked for Lefebure for 26 years. Bill served in the United States Marines during World War II where he fought on the Saipan, Okinawa and Tinian islands, and received a purple heart. On June 1, 1949, he married Helen Hilliard. He enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids. Bill also loved the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established to place a bench in a Benton County Park in Bill's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Bill at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published May 17, 2013 in The Gazette