Ernest “Ernie” Doyle Rowland, of Hiawatha, was born March 2, 1917, at Barnesdoll near Bartlesville, Oklahoma, one of four children born to Elmer and Delmalutha “Delma” Spyres Rowland.  Ernie died Monday evening, September 18, 2017, at Maple Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Hiawatha.  He celebrated his 100th birthday in March.

Ernie’s family moved to Stillwater when he was a youngster and grew up and attended schools there, graduating from Stillwater High school with the class of 1936.  He attended A&M College (now Oklahoma State University) for a time.  He was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in Europe, landing at Normandy; France after the D-Day beachhead had been secured, with the 80th Infantry Division “Blue Ridge Mountain Boys,” until being wounded in the “Battle of the Bulge.”  He later was transferred to the 1st Infantry Division “Big Red One”, and was assigned to the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany as a Military Policeman, during the war trails.  He was discharged at the rank of sergeant in 1946.  Ernie returned to Oklahoma where he worked as a foreman for Fairmont Creamery in the poultry division for 17 years, first at Guthrie, OK and later Alliance, NE.  He later worked for the USDA Poultry Division grading branch as an inspector, specializing in egg products in Hutchinson, Topeka, prior to transferring to Hiawatha.  He received several citations and awards in this work prior to retiring in 1984.

Mr. Rowland was a longtime member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Hiawatha; the Odd Fellows Lodge; the Homer-White Post #66 American Legion - Hiawatha; a life time member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post in Kansas City, MO; a life member of the Disabled Veterans of America (DAV) and the Hiawatha McDonald’s Coffee Club.  Since the Rowland’s lived, next door to Bethany United Church of Christ, they attended there at times through the years. In his younger years, while he and Marcedes lived in Wichita, he was also a volunteer fire fighter. Ernie was on the Board of Directors for many years for Living Waters Ranch, on Tuttle Creek Reservoir near Osceloa, KS. Ernie enjoyed fishing, camping, and being outdoors enjoying God’s Creation.

He married Marcedes Thelma White at Stillwater, OK, in 1937. They lived in various places due to Ernie’s work, settling in Hiawatha in the fall of 1971, where they raised their son Mark, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Marcie died on September 14th 1999.  Ernie continued to live at home on Shawnee Street, until moving to Maple Heights two years ago.

Survivors include their son Mark Edgar Rowland of Roswell, New Mexico; two grandchildren: Lukas Kyle Rowland of Montreal, Canada and Kiera Elise Rowland of Arnaudville, LA; several nieces and nephews. Good friends to Ernie were Judy and Chuck McSpadden of Hiawatha.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Delma; two sisters Lucille of Guthrie, OK and Mildred of Cushing, OK, and a brother Carl of Leadville, CO, who was a Marine survivor of the December 7th 1941, Attack on Pearl Harbor.

A Celebration of Ernie’s life is planned for 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 22, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha, with Shane Spangler and Bill Worcester, to officiate.  Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha, with military honors a courtesy of the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 21.  The family will meet with friends one half hour prior to services.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard, sent in care of the funeral home. www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com