Dorothy Rowland

Beach, VA, and formerly of Bradenton, FL and Portsmouth, VA, died peacefully on

Monday, March 4, 2013.

Born in Richmond on March 25, 1919 she was the daughter of Mary Dyson Sease

and Cyril I. Sease, MD. She is survived by her brother, James R. Sease, MD, and wife,

Alice Julius, of Harrisonburg, VA and her sister, Lucy Sease Davis, and husband,

Thomas D. Davis, MD of Richmond, VA. She was predeceased by her sister, Margery

Sease Burruss, of Quinton, VA and her brothers, Cyril I. Sease, Jr., MD and Robert H.

Sease, MD, both of Harrisonburg,VA.

She was the beloved wife of Robert Cutchin Rowland who predeceased her.

Mrs. Rowland is survived by her four children: Mary Ellen (Deedle) Rowland Holsten

and husband, Bob, of Richmond, VA, Robert Rowland, Jr., MD and wife, Christine, of

Chesapeake, VA, J. Richard Rowland and wife, Ann, of Alpharetta, GA and Elizabeth

Ann (Liz) Rowland of Virginia Beach, VA. Mrs. Rowland was the proud grandmother of

Robert Holsten, Jr., Brent Holsten, Austin Holsten, Lisa Rowland Mercer, Anne Rowland

Stubert, Ben Rowland, Matt Rowland, Alex Rowland and Nate Rowland. She adored

her thirteen great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Rowland graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond in 1936.

She graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1940 where she majored in premed

and chemistry and was a member of Tri-Delta Sorority. It was at William and Mary

that she met her true love, Robert Cutchin Rowland. They were happily married for 63

years. She was always a supportive wife and ever encouraging mother to her four

children.

Surviving an almost fatal disease at the age of six, Mrs. Rowland was left profoundly

deaf throughout the rest of her life. She faced this challenge with courage and grace

and never uttered a complaint. Mrs. Rowland had a very sweet Southern charm, a

quick wit, and for those who knew her well, a bit of mischief. An avid reader, Mrs.

Rowland was always anxious to learn and stay current. Her many interests and talents

included painting, sewing, china painting, knitting, bridge, golf, daily walks, and doing

crossword puzzles.

She was an longtime member of Centenary Methodist Church in Portsmouth, VA.

Her faith and positive spirit, the beauty of her mind and countenance, her resilience,

and the enduring love she shared with her husband and family are an inspiration to her

children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family would like to express their

heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Rowlandʼs caregiver, Kathleen Ifill, who added many happy

years to her life, to her extraordinary physicians, and to the nurses and staff at

Westminster-Canterbury who cared for her so lovingly.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm on Friday evening, March 8, 2013, at the

Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 Parham Road, Richmond, VA. A

graveside service will be held at the Westhampton Memorial Park in Richmond at 11:00

a.m. on Saturday, March 9th. A memorial service will be held at Westminster-

Canterbury, Virginia Beach on Monday, March 11, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, 3312

Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, VA 23703.