Rowland

Harold “Slim” Eugene Rowland, 92, of Taylor died Monday, Sept. 23, 2019.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Dr. Travis L. Summerlin of 10th Street United Methodist Church in Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Rockdale.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.

Mr. Rowland was born Jan. 17, 1927, in Rockdale to Vernon Eugene and Edith (Williams) Rowland.

He served in the U.S. Army as a demolition’s specialist and later with the Military Draft Board.

Mr. Rowland worked at Dixon Gun Plant, and then Western Electric. It was there he met his wife, Esther, who worked for Bell Telephone Co. as an operator at the Taylor office.

He retired from Alcoa as a welder, where he was the local union president.

Mr. Rowland was also one of the founders of Rockdale Credit Union.

In addition, he also participated as a welding instructor in the Taylor High School agriculture class.

Mr. Rowland was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Esther (Blomquist) Rowland, as well as a daughter, Ruth Blackwell, and a grandson, Travis Rowland.

Survivors are two sons, James Rowland and wife Marilyne of Taylor, Paul Rowland and wife Vickie of Thrall; also, seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.