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FRANCIS LINWOOD ROWE

Francis Linwood Rowe, 95, of Gloucester, passed away on Nov. 6, 2018.

He was a charter member of Gloucester Point Baptist Church and the Abingdon Ruritan Club where he had the distinction of being the oldest member on roll. Francis was a World War II veteran having served in the U.S. Navy and a retired firefighter at the Coast Guard Station, Yorktown.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Francis loved people, never met a stranger and always felt blessed with many friends. His lifelong passion was fishing and he enjoyed woodworking and gardening. He especially loved making bluebird houses and giving them away to friends.

Francis was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 70 years, Hazel Belvin Rowe; his parents, Samuel Emmett Rowe and Mildred Riley Rowe; three brothers, Samuel Emmett Rowe Jr., Edward Leslie Rowe and Hugh Riley Rowe; two sisters, Charlotte Rowe Dell and Amy Rowe Johnson, and son-in-law, Joseph Carlyle Brown Jr.

He is survived by three loving daughters, Frances Rowe Woods and her husband Joe, Judith Rowe Mays and her husband Joe, and Nan Rowe Evans and her husband, Ken; four grandsons, Kenneth Carlyle Brown and his wife Melissa, Matthew Francis Brown, Kevin Ross Mays and his wife Leigh, and Andrew Todd Evans and his wife Natalie; seven great-grandchildren, Francesca Rae Brown, Bryce John Brown, Fletcher Matthew Brown, Mitchell Carlyle Brown, Kylie Michelle Brown, Tyson Joseph Mays and Jackson Churchill Mays; a sister, Bessie Rowe Berry, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family received friends on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, from 10-11:30 a.m. at Gloucester Point Baptist Church. A service to celebrate his life followed the visitation at 11:30, with the Rev. Bud Goude and the Rev. Richard Whiteheart conducting. Interment followed in Rosewell Memorial Garden Cemetery.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff and caregivers at Commonwealth Senior Living at Gloucester House and to Dr. David Alpert and the staff of Gloucester Riverside Internal Medicine.

In memory of Francis L. Rowe, please consider contributions to Gloucester Point Baptist Church Capital Improvement Fund, P.O. Box 305, Gloucester Point, Va. 23062 or the Abingdon Volunteer Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 9, Bena, Va. 23018.

Arrangements under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home and Crematory, Gloucester Point. Please visit www.hoggfh.com to share condolences and memories.