Donald J. Rowland

CARLISLE. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones", Psalm 116: 15.

Donald J. Rowland crossed the line into heavenly eternity on Wednesday, November 13, 2013. He died of heart disease even though he had a heart of gold.

Born July 23, 1927 in Carbondale Township, Lackawanna County, he was the son of the late Patrick and Mary Oblazney Rowland.

Mr. Rowland was a member of the US Army Air Force Reserve and the Marine Corps just as WWII was ending. In 1955 he graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lebanon Valley College, Annville. He also attended Penn State University where graduate studies qualified him for permanent certification as a teacher in the State of Pennsylvania.

For six years Mr. Rowland was a teacher of social studies in the Chambersburg Area School System. His teaching career was followed by thirty-one years of service with the United Telephone System, the predecessor of the Sprint Corporation, where he had various management positions of increasing responsibility. Mr. Rowland retired from the Sprint Corporation in 1992.

During his telecommunications career Mr. Rowland served in several civic and professional organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Lions Club, and Telephone Pioneers. He also served as a Lector at Saint Bernard Catholic Church, New Bloomfield and a Lector and Minister of Communion at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Carlisle.

Following his retirement from Sprint, Mr. Rowland gifted his family and community with the nonfiction book, Whites Crossing, an autobiographical memoir depicting life in a northeastern Pennsylvania village during the Great Depression and World War II. He also published a second book, a fictional work entitled Last One Home depicting events of the Civil War affecting modern day south-central PA.

Don was the kind of person who nurtured life-long relationships with family and friends. He will be remembered for the many attributes of his character including love, joy, peace, forbearance, goodness, faithfulness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), and compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12).

Mr. Rowland was the widower of Genevieve Ann Valitsky Rowland, and is survived by his beloved wife, of thirty-nine years, Lillian, of Carlisle; children Donald, Glenn, John, Robert, Richard, Sandra, Sheryl; seventeen grandchildren, nieces and nephews, six great-grandchildren, and the legacy of generations yet to come.

In addition to his parents and wife Genevieve, two brothers and a sister preceded him in death.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 18, 2013 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 85 Marsh Drive, Carlisle with the Rev. Dwight D. Schlaline as celebrant. Internment will take place the following day at 1:00 p.m., in the Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Carbondale. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday at the church.

Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 North Hanover Street, Carlisle is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Patrick Catholic Church, 152 East Pomfret Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 or to Hospice of Central PA, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

To sign the guest book visit www.hoffmanroth.com