BILL E. ROWE, 82, of Winfield, Kansas, passed away Monday evening, June 3, 2013 at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita.

Born April 1, 1931 in Wichita, Kansas, he was the son of David Duane and Sylvia Rose (Huff) Rowe. He was raised and educated in Winfield. He dropped out of school at a young age to help on the family farm and later obtained his GED.

Bill entered the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He served two years where he guarded the Panama Canal and was honorably discharged.

He was united in marriage to Norma M. Lambert on May 13, 1951 in Winfield where the couple made their home. The couple also lived in Arkansas City for some time. Mrs. Rowe preceded Bill in death on April 21, 2006.

Bill began working for the Winfield Fire Department at the age of 17 as a tailboard man. He then went to work for the Osawatomie State Hospital as the Chief of Fire and Security. Following that, he worked as a State Arson Investigator for the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office. On August 17, 1981, Bill assumed the role of Fire Chief for the Arkansas City Fire Department. He retired from the fire department on April 1, 1994. During his career, Bill continued farming and ranching his wheat and cattle.

Mr. Rowe was a member of the Dexter Christian Church. He had recently been attending Holy Name Catholic Church. He was a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3544 and the American Legion Post 10 in Winfield. He was an active volunteer for the Salvation Army and had received the Harry Long Award for his outstanding community service. Bill was a former member of the Kansas Arson Investigators Association and the Kansas Fire Chief Association. He coached Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball. He loved calf roping and was an avid reader. He enjoyed history, hunting bird and deer and collecting belt buckles. He enjoyed his involvement with the Blackwell Livestock Association. His list of involvement and activities is too long to name them all.

His family includes:
His daughter: Raylene Mattocks and husband, Bob of Great Bend;
His brother: Carl Rowe of Arkansas City;
His sister: Nelda Crouse of Winfield;
His grandchildren: Shelley Isham of Winfield; and Mindi Holecek and husband, Jeff of Fredricksburg, VA; and
His great grandsons: Matthew and Taylor.

In addition to his parents and wife, Bill was preceded in death by his sisters, Norma Jean Asbury and JoAnn Sutton.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, June 10, 2013 at 10:30 A.M. at Miles Funeral Service. Interment and Military Committal Honors will follow at Rose Valley Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 6 P.M. The family will greet visitors from 2 to 4 that afternoon.

Memorials have been established in Bill's name for the Salvation Army in Arkansas City and for the American Diabetes Association. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.