Charles William "Bill" Rowland

Charles William “Bill” Rowland, 79, of New Philadelphia, near Tuscarawas, passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Born November 12, 1935, in Port Washington, he was a son of the late Charles Emerson and Grace Lenora (Scherer) Rowland.

A lifelong resident of the area, Bill was a 1954 graduate of Newcomerstown High School before earning his Master Barber’s certificate from Riggs Lamar Barber College. His main career was with the Gradall Co. where he was employed for 38 years until his retirement in 1997. He was a member of the AFLCIO. Bill was a talented musician who played the fiddle and steel guitar for several bands, including the Country Harmony Boys, in his younger years. He was a longtime member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Port Washington.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, the former Shirley A. Cole; their children, Mike (Nora) Rowland of Derby, Kansas, Ken (Leslie) Rowland of New Philadelphia, and Lisa (Bob) Hall of Gnadenhutten; grandchildren, Michael (Eva) Rowland, Ashlee (Tom) Slutz, Matt Rowland, Bobby (Mandy) Hall, and Eric Rowland; great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Beckett Rowland, Logan and Ethan Slutz, and another expected in February; brother, James (Mary) Rowland of Gnadenhutten; sister-in-law, Tina (Mark) Bober; brother-in-law, Roger (Pam) Cole; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Robert Buckley, will be held at 10am on Thursday, January 22, in the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home in Dennison. Interment will follow in Port Washington-Salem Union Cemetery in Port Washington. Visitation will be 4-7pm on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ.