Obituary of Margaret Rowland

MARION, VIRGINIA: MARGARET BOYCE ROWLAND, 91, of Marion died peacefully on Thursday February 18, 2015 at LewisGale Medical Center, Salem, VA. Margaret was born in Derry, New Hampshire on February 20, 1923. She graduated high school from Pinkerton Academy, Derry, New Hampshire in 1940, and from St Joseph's Hospital nursing school, Nashua, New Hampshire in 1944. She met her future husband, Kelly Rowland, while attending nursing school. They were married in his hometown of Princeton, West Virginia on September 16, 1944. Margaret remained in Princeton working as an operating room nurse at Memorial Hospital while Kelly returned to active duty prior to the end of World War II. Following the end of World War II the couple moved to Clintwood, VA where Kelly was employed by AEP. Margaret returned to nursing in 1955 as the first public health nurse hired in Dickenson County, beginning a long and successful career in public health. The family moved to Marion, VA in 1965 where Margaret worked as a public health nurse in Smyth County until her retirement in 1993. She is remembered by her peers and colleagues as "a dear friend" and "an amazing nurse". Margaret was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Kelly Rowland. She is survived by her 4 children, John Rowland and wife, Phyllis of Manassas VA, Elizabeth Rowland-Roth and husband, David of Babylon NY, Mary Rowland Hughes of Roanoke VA, and Ruth Rowland Able of Marion VA; 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, sharing love and laughter with her family throughout her life. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated, Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Evangelist Catholic Church, Marion, VA with Father Frances Musolooza officiating. Interment will be held at a later date in Roselawn Cemetery, Princeton, West Virginia. The family will receive friends Friday, February 27, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Seaver Brown Chapel, Marion VA. Flowers will be accepted or Memorial gifts may be made to Smyth County students of the Wytheville Community College Nursing Program. Please make checks payable to: WCC Educational Foundation. In the notes/memo line please state, Nursing - Smyth County. Mail to: WCC Educational Foundation, 1000 East Main Street, Wytheville, VA 24382. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Rowland Family.