Obituary for William Frederick "Bill" Rowan
William F (Bill) Rowan, 63, of Weston gained eternal peace on Tuesday, December 1st, 2020 at United Hospital Center in Bridgeport following an extended illness and a vigilant fight with diabetes.
Bill was born on April 28th, 1957 in Sedalia, Missouri to the late William H Rowan and the late Bessie L Brockman Rowan Golden. Bill was predeceased by his wife Cheryl Rowan in 1999.
Bill graduated from Lewis County High School with the class of 1975. He was the director of the Lewis County Office of Emergency Management and the Director of the Lewis/Gilmer E-911. Bill was a member of the First Baptist Church of Weston, having served on several boards and committees within the church and was a representative of the Fisher Baptist Camp.
Those left to celebrate his memory are his wife Cindy Stout Rowan who will forever cherish the 21 years they shared together and his 6 children, daughters: Gwendolyn Donaldson Blake and Jodie Rowan both of Clarksburg and Heather McVay (Daniel) of Chandler OK, sons: Jason Rowan (Amanda) of Weston, Jake Rowan (Andra) of French Creek and Matthew Ellis (Rachel) of Rosemont, 12 grandchildren: Morgan, Austin, Jaxson, McKinleigh, Laine, Cole, Aubrey, Greyson, Everley, Jaxtyn, Jade, and Braven, sister: Barbara McVaney (Ron) of Buckhannon, 2 brothers: David Rowan (Paulette) of Philippi and Neil Golden Jr (Crystal) of Weston. He also had extended relatives in Missouri and West Virginia as well as a host of friends that he considered family.
Bill was a retired assistant Chief from the Weston Fire Department and member with over 40 years of service to the Weston Volunteer Fire Department. During his firefighting career, Bill was a Professional Board Certified Firefighter and a WV University and Regional Education Service Association Fire Service Instructor who taught thousands of firefighters across the state of WV. He served as the Building Inspector for the City of Weston in the early 1980’s.
In 1984, he was hired as Lewis County’s First Emergency Management Director and was the creator and driving force for the establishment of the Lewis County E-911 Center in 1990. He was the only Emergency Management and 911 Director to ever serve Lewis County. Shortly after creation of the E-911 Center, Bill developed the first multi-county E-911 Center in the state of West Virginia in a collaborative agreement with Gilmer County. Bill was awarded Lewis Countian of the year in 1992.
Bill was a visionary and widely respected across West Virginia. He served as WV E-911 Council President, WV APCO President, WV NENA Secretary and Lewis/Upshur Local Emergency Planning Council Chairman. He was a member of the WV Emergency Management Council, the WV E-911 Council and the WV State Fire Chief’s Association.
Bill leaves behind a lifetime of unparalleled service to Lewis County and the state of West Virginia. His years of instruction and his vast knowledge trained thousands to save lives. Although he is gone, his legacy will continue to impact generations to come.
A service honoring Bill’s dedication to the Fire Service, E-911 Center, and his community, including his Fireman’s Last Call to send him home, will be held Saturday, December 5th, 2020 at the Weston Volunteer Fire Department at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Weston Volunteer Fire Department at 321 Center Street, Weston, WV 26452 or the First Baptist Church of Weston at 132 East 2nd Street Weston, WV 26452. Online condolences and life stories in memory of Bill may be expressed at hardmanfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Hardman Family Funeral Home of Weston, WV considers it an honor and privilege to serve the family of William F (Bill) Rowan.
Bill was born on April 28th, 1957 in Sedalia, Missouri to the late William H Rowan and the late Bessie L Brockman Rowan Golden. Bill was predeceased by his wife Cheryl Rowan in 1999.
Bill graduated from Lewis County High School with the class of 1975. He was the director of the Lewis County Office of Emergency Management and the Director of the Lewis/Gilmer E-911. Bill was a member of the First Baptist Church of Weston, having served on several boards and committees within the church and was a representative of the Fisher Baptist Camp.
Those left to celebrate his memory are his wife Cindy Stout Rowan who will forever cherish the 21 years they shared together and his 6 children, daughters: Gwendolyn Donaldson Blake and Jodie Rowan both of Clarksburg and Heather McVay (Daniel) of Chandler OK, sons: Jason Rowan (Amanda) of Weston, Jake Rowan (Andra) of French Creek and Matthew Ellis (Rachel) of Rosemont, 12 grandchildren: Morgan, Austin, Jaxson, McKinleigh, Laine, Cole, Aubrey, Greyson, Everley, Jaxtyn, Jade, and Braven, sister: Barbara McVaney (Ron) of Buckhannon, 2 brothers: David Rowan (Paulette) of Philippi and Neil Golden Jr (Crystal) of Weston. He also had extended relatives in Missouri and West Virginia as well as a host of friends that he considered family.
Bill was a retired assistant Chief from the Weston Fire Department and member with over 40 years of service to the Weston Volunteer Fire Department. During his firefighting career, Bill was a Professional Board Certified Firefighter and a WV University and Regional Education Service Association Fire Service Instructor who taught thousands of firefighters across the state of WV. He served as the Building Inspector for the City of Weston in the early 1980’s.
In 1984, he was hired as Lewis County’s First Emergency Management Director and was the creator and driving force for the establishment of the Lewis County E-911 Center in 1990. He was the only Emergency Management and 911 Director to ever serve Lewis County. Shortly after creation of the E-911 Center, Bill developed the first multi-county E-911 Center in the state of West Virginia in a collaborative agreement with Gilmer County. Bill was awarded Lewis Countian of the year in 1992.
Bill was a visionary and widely respected across West Virginia. He served as WV E-911 Council President, WV APCO President, WV NENA Secretary and Lewis/Upshur Local Emergency Planning Council Chairman. He was a member of the WV Emergency Management Council, the WV E-911 Council and the WV State Fire Chief’s Association.
Bill leaves behind a lifetime of unparalleled service to Lewis County and the state of West Virginia. His years of instruction and his vast knowledge trained thousands to save lives. Although he is gone, his legacy will continue to impact generations to come.
A service honoring Bill’s dedication to the Fire Service, E-911 Center, and his community, including his Fireman’s Last Call to send him home, will be held Saturday, December 5th, 2020 at the Weston Volunteer Fire Department at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Weston Volunteer Fire Department at 321 Center Street, Weston, WV 26452 or the First Baptist Church of Weston at 132 East 2nd Street Weston, WV 26452. Online condolences and life stories in memory of Bill may be expressed at hardmanfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Hardman Family Funeral Home of Weston, WV considers it an honor and privilege to serve the family of William F (Bill) Rowan.