ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Herbert Lewis Rowe, 82, of Freeport and St. Petersburg, Fla., formerly of Wilton, died Jan. 17, at his home in Florida.

He was born Feb. 9. 1923, a son of Daniel B. and Ora M. Packard Rowe, the youngest of seven children. He received his education in Wilton schools and graduated from Wilton Academy in 1941.

In January 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army. He spent time in California, Oregon and England, where he trained on anti-aircraft guns. He went to France via Omaha Beach 10 days after the invasion and was later honorably discharged and returned home to Wilton.

On June 15, 1946, he married Burnett Emma Stanley. She died in 1996. Mr. Rowe worked at the Wilton Woolen Mill and later at G.H. Bass Shoe as a handsewer until 1975. He then moved to Richmond and worked at the Etonic Shoe Co. and later to Gardiner for Bostonian Shoe. His last move was to L.L. Bean where he worked in the factory in Freeport and retired in 1986.

Mr. Rowe was a mild-mannered man, a craftsman, and a lover of life. He spent his last summers in Maine playing golf and his winters in Florida doing the same. In his own words, “What a life!”

He is survived by a son, Kimball Rowe and his wife, Sherry, and a grandson, John Alden Rowe, all of Utah; a sister, Marion Leeman of Falmouth; several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a son, Malcolm in 1993.

Copy the Story Link