Frederick N. Rowland Sr.

Frederick North Rowland, Sr., a lifetime Oxford resident, passed away June 11, 2023 at the age of 97. He was born December 14, 1925 and grew up on his family's farm on Christian Street. He graduated from Seymour High School in 1943, married Myrtle Potter, and moved to a plot of land on the farm on Towner Lane in 1949. As a young man, he enjoyed flying out of dirt airstrips in western Connecticut with his friend Gordon Whitcomb. He left the farm to pursue his passion of working on engines and machines. Fred spent many years at the Kerite Company and Seymour Grain and Coal and retired from Moore Special Tool in 1990. Fred served as a founder and president of the Oxford Old-Tyme Fair, a 4-H club leader for many years, senior warden of St Peter's Episcopal Church, long-time superintendent of the Southford, St Peter's, and Jacks Hill cemeteries, and member of several town committees. After retirement, Fred returned to help on the family farm and enjoyed restoring a Ford Model A produce truck. He was a fixture at the Wamogo High School tractor restoration program. He was the son of the late Edward and Alfaretta (Moore) Rowland. He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Myrtle Potter Rowland, his brothers Edward and Philip Rowland and sister Marion Fritz, and by his great grandchild Noah Keith-Lucas. He is survived by his sons Frederick, Jr., Charles, and Gordon; his daughters in law Barbara, Karen, and Anne; his honorary son Jack Purcell (Claudia); his grandchildren Heather (Darwin Keith-Lucas), Geoffrey (Erin), Elizabeth, and Haley; and his great grandchildren Caleb, Connor, and Peter. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday June 16, 2023, at 11:00 AM(Directly) at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 421 Oxford Rd., Oxford, with Reverend Ellen Donnelly officiating. Interment in the family plot at Southford Cemetery, Oxford will follow. Friends and relatives may call on Thursday , June 15, 2023 at The Miller-Ward Funeral Home, 260 Bank Street (RT. 67, across from Klarides Village) Seymour, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Memorial gifts in Fred's memory may be made to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, or The Oxford Historical Society, through the funeral home. Cemetery Details Southford Cemetery Oxford CT 06478 Previous Events Visitation JUN 15. 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET) Miller-Ward Funeral Home 260 Bank Street (RT 67, across from Klarides Village) Seymour, CT 06483 https://www.millerwardfuneralhome.com Celebration of Life JUN 16. 11:00 AM (ET) St. Peter's Episcopal Church 421 Oxford Rd Oxford, CT