Obituaries

Jesse (Pancho) Calvin Rowe

Photo of Jesse (Pancho) Calvin Rowe
Jesse Calvin (Pancho) Rowe, 87, died Monday, June 14, 2010. He was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, June 28, 1922, to Stuart Polk and Gracie Moses Rowe. He was proud of being a fourth generation Garland County resident and of walking to the Daniels School--up-hill both ways, barefoot in the snow. He played guard with the State Championship Hot Springs Junior High School Team of 1937. He was graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1941 and worked as a "soda jerk" at Schneck's Drug Store while taking flying lessons as a member of the Civil Air Patrol until December 8, 1941, when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He became an Aviation Air Cadet in Pilot Squadron 51 at Santa Ana Army Air Base January 15, 1943, and was assigned to the 41st Bomb Group--820th Bomb Squadron--7th Air Force. In the Pacific Theater, he piloted the B-25 Bomber (The Billy Mitchell) in 31 missions over the Central Pacific and Japan. He was decorated with the Presidential Unit Citation, Air Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medical with Four Battle Stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Combat Ready Medals, and others. He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1967 with the rank of Lt. Colonel (but he said, "Don't ask me to talk about it"). After returning from the service in November 1946, he enrolled at the College of the Ozarks Pharmacy School in December 1946 where me met and married "the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen," Wayma Sue Workman (aka "Old Lucky"). He transferred to the University of Oklahoma where he was an honor graduate with majors in pharmacy and chemistry--much to the surprise of his high school teachers. He owned and operated Rowe Drug Store in Freeman Center from 1957 until his retirement in 1976. During those years, he found great enjoyment in SCCA Racing (G and H Production); his car of choice was the Austin Healy "Bugeye" Sprite. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America as the leader of Explorer Post 3 and was elected to the Order of the Arrow. After his retirement, he finally had time to pursue other interests: woodworking, gardening, coin collecting, painting, snow skiing, traveling the globe--particularly Scotland and Brazil--Great Books Discussion and Shakespeare, as well as working with his beloved cows. His civil pursuits included Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club (president 1995-1996) where he was also the first Rotarian of the Year in 1994, as well as a double Paul Harris Fellow. He was president of the Garland County Library Board for five years, board member and past president of the Garland County Historical Society, and charter member and recipient of the First Volunteer of the Year Award in 2003 at Garvan Woodland Gardens with over 2,500 hours of service. He also served on the screening committee of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and as a volunteer reader at Langston and Oaklawn Schools. He served as deacon at First Presbyterian Church and was a founding member and on the Board of the Rosenzweig Fund for Interfaith Activity. In 2003, he was named Spa City Santa of the Year. He is survived by his beloved child bride of 62 years, Wayma Sue Workman Rowe; son Dr. Daniel Rowe and wife Sandra of Hot Springs; daughter Dr. Kathryn Rowe Killman and husband Dan of Nashville, Tennessee; grandchildren Jessica June Rowe of Los Angeles, California, Jeremy Jackson Rowe of Hot Springs, Kathryn Grace Killman and Margaret Susanna Killman of Nashville, Tennessee, Brandyce Whitfield Harp and husband Richard of Little Rock, Ark., Natalie Whitfield Brown and husband Josh of Hot Springs; and great-grandchildren, Madelynne Kay Brown, Isabella Grace Harp, and Nicholas Whitfield Harp. He is also survived by the legions of friends and adopted family who were so important to him. A memorial service is planned for Thursday, June 17, at 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church with a reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Garvan Woodland Gardens, First Presbyterian Church, Arkansas Hospice, or the charity of your choice. Guests may register at www.caruth-hale.com.

Published June 16, 2010

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