SEARSPORT – Richard E. Rowell, 78, passed away peacefully Nov. 11, 2009, at home, after a brief battle with brain cancer. He had been diagnosed with the illness in late April of this year. Richard was born Nov. 20, 1930, in Bangor, son of Orman and Marion Garall Rowell. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Rosemary Phillips, whom he married Jan. 6, 1951. Rosemary passed away April 20, 2005, from leukemia. Richard is survived by his daughter, Deborah K. Frasco of Searsport; daughter, Sandra Rozum and husband, Dennis, of Chesterfield, Va.; daughter, Patricia Smith and husband, Stephen, of Richmond, Va.; son, Richard A. Rowell and wife, Suzanne, of Uxbridge, Mass.; three grandsons, Anthony Frasco and wife, Lisa, of Higganum, Conn., Aaron Frasco and wife, Chrissy, of Fort Hood, Texas, and Ricky Rowell of Searsport; two great-grandsons and two great-granddaughters. Richard is also survived by his brother, Kenneth Rowell of Bangor. He was also predeceased by his sister, Ann Kimball of Winterport; and his parents. Richard was a 1949 graduate of Bangor High School and recently had the great pleasure of attending the 60th class reunion. In 1951, he entered the active Air Force service, where he served until late 1959 as a tech sergeant management system analyst. He left the Air Force to begin what became a 33-year career in the specialty sector of the paper industry with Tecnifax Corp., Holyoke, Mass. Scott Paper acquired Tecnifax and Richard soon became director of operations of the Scott education division, which produced and sold audio visual material to the education kindergarten through grade 12 systems throughout the U.S. After an acquisition by James River Corp., Richard became the employee relations manager for James River Graphics, South Hadley, Mass. He and Rosemary relocated to the James River corporate office in Richmond, Va., and Richard assumed the role of director of human resources for the specialty paper business. He worked with management and employee groups throughout the U.S. and international locations for several years before retiring in 1993 from his position as vice president of human resources at Specialty Coating International, Richmond, Va. In retirement, Richard and Rosemary returned home to Maine. They were active in Searsport Congregational Church, and enjoyed traveling, gardening, music, boating, golfing, and the company of family and friends. In recent years, Richard enjoyed his passion for growing roses and continued to share their beauty with friends, family and neighbors. The family is especially grateful to Richard’s special friend, JoDelle Rolerson, who entered their father’s life in August 2006 and extended love, companionship and care to him. A memorial service celebrating Richards’s life will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at Belfast United Methodist Church. A gathering will be immediately afterward at Fellowship Hall. It was Richard’s wish that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Belfast United Methodist Church, 23 Mill Lane, Belfast, ME 04915; Searsport Congregational Church, 8 Church St., Searsport ME 04974; or CancerCare, care of EMMC Healthcare Charities, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931. Arrangements by Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor. Condolences may be offered at www.kileyandfoley.com.
RICHARD E. ROWELL
