William Junior Rowden
William Junior Rowden was born October 18, 1930, in Big Piney, Mo., the son of William Barney and Ruth Leona (McElfresh) Rowden. He departed this life on May 24, 2010, in Shawnee, Okla., at the age of 79 years. At 18 years old, he enlisted in the U.S. army where he served with the 74th engineer combat Battalion from December 1948, until August 1952. William was awarded the Korean Service Medal, two Bronze Stars, and the United Nations Medal of Good Conduct. While stationed in Fort Custer, Battle Creek, Mich., he met Marjorie Woodhams. They were married on December 20, 1950. They had two sons, William Joseph and Robert Lowell. On February 5, 1956, he married Erma Jean Edwards. They had one son, Barry David, who died November 10, 1986. Erma Jean preceded him in death on December 27, 2000, after 44 years of marriage. On February 22, 2001, he married Dortha Fay Caffey, who died March 5, 2010. Prior to retirement, William worked as a certified aircraft mechanic for more than 30 years. In addition to working on aircraft, he liked to restore Ford Mustangs. An avid fisherman, he made a number of trips to Canada and Alaska to cast his lines for salmon and trout. William is survived by his sons and their spouses William and Robin Rowden, Shawnee, Okla., Robert and Maria Rowden, Bulverde, Texas; daughter Jennifer Fuller Parks, Kansas City, Mo.; sister Icy Oleta Eyberg and husband Dale, Fernley, Nev.; brother Charles Rowden and wife Norma, Lebanon, Mo.; grandchildren William Jacob and Daxon Floyd Rowden, Tulsa, Okla., Jenny Plunkett, Norman, Okla. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 29, 2010, in Buckhorn cemetery, Buckhorn, Mo. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, in Greenlawn Funeral Home North.