Memorials

Murray Lender Rowland, 85, a Noble Township, Noble County farmer, died at 4:53 am Friday, May 22, 2009 in the Hospice Home in Fort Wayne.

He was born at Blue Lake near Churubusco on March 14, 1924, a son of John William and Lalah Zolman Rowland. His formative years were spent in Noble and Whitley counties and he graduated from the Columbia City High School in 1942.

In June 1943, he was drafted into the U.S. Marines and served until June 1946.

In addition to farming, he was employed by the Dana-Weatherhead Corporation in Columbia City, retiring as a machinist with forty-four years of service.

On February 3, 1951 he was united in marriage to Jeanette Stump and they spent their married life on the same farm near Burr Oak.  She preceded him in death on April 5, 2005.

He was a member of the Albion American Legion Post #246.

The surviving relatives include two sons, John E. Rowland, Winston-Salem, NC and Dennis J. Rowland, Burr Oak; two brothers, Walter Rowland, Columbia City, Curtis Rowland, Warsaw; two sisters, Clara Belle Ressler, Columbia City and June Wilson, Michigan.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ellis Cunningham and Mark Rowland; three sisters, Nellie Duggins, Jean Hansen and Shirley Rowland.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 am Wednesday in the Smith and Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.  The burial will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery at Merriam with the Albion American Legion Post presenting military honors.  The visitation will be from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the donor’s favorite charity.

Condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com