William J. Rowley

William Joseph Rowley died February 14, 2011 on St. Valentine’s Day to be with his sweetheart, Gloria. He was born on July 1, 1934 in Evansville, Indiana to the late James and Bernadine Rowley of Indiana. Bill was also known as Butch to his school friends, since there were four other Billy’s on the neighborhood street. He was very devoted to his Catholic faith and loved his family, school and a good education, all sports, a great book and God above all else. He attended Catholic Elementary School at St. Anthony Parish where he served as an outstanding altar boy at the daily 5:30 morning Mass. He also served at the old St. Mary’s Hospital chapel. Bill commented he may have appeared angelic, but he had a mischievous side too! He recounted once being caught by a Franciscan nun, Sr. Bernadette, in third grade for misbehaving and she cracked him over the knuckles until he cried in pain. It taught him a good lesson, because he then became a “Teacher’s Pet”. He excelled in his studies graduating Valedictorian from Memorial Catholic High School and received a full scholarship to Notre Dame. He turned down the Notre Dame scholarship to attend St. Edward’s University in Austin where he received a B.S. in Physics. Later he attended the University of Texas and earned a Masters in Mathematics and Computer Science.

Shortly after arriving in Texas, in the mid-1950’s, Bill met the love of his life, Gloria Leigh Black, who was attending St. Mary’s school in Austin. They married the weekend of his college graduation, as Bill’s parents were in town from Indiana and did not want to make a second trip back to Texas just for a wedding. They had their first son, Jim while living in Austin. Then Bill moved his family to Fort Worth where he was employed by General Dynamics for 10 years. They had four more children in Fort Worth, totaling 4 sons and 1 daughter to bring their number to lucky 7 as a family. In 1966, months after having their last son, the Rowleys moved to Houston where Bill spent the next 30 years working for the University of Houston, where he retired as the Director of Computing.

Upon arriving in Houston, a family friend and the pastor of St. Thomas More Church, Fr. Schoppe, helped them find a home directly across the street from his parish church and school. This made it easy to send the Rowley children to St. Thomas More Parish School, where both Bill and Gloria became parent volunteers. Bill was an active member at St. Thomas More Parish for many years serving as an usher, an extraordinary minister, a member of perpetual adoration society and in various other capacities. He also volunteered his time with youth sports’ organizations, boy scouts and anything his children were involved in! He was a devoted husband, father and a devout Christian.

Mr. Rowley is preceded in death by his parents, his ever loving wife Gloria and his firstborn son James Anthony Rowley (Jim). He is survived by his daughter Nina Rowley Coltharp of Missouri City, son Mark Bernard Rowley DVM and wife Wendy of Mullin, son Matthew Joseph Rowley MD and wife Kim of Lufkin, son Michael Louis Rowley and wife Renee Barron of Katy, grandchildren Cheryl Coltharp Normann-Petersen and husband Charles of Sugar Land, Cindy Coltharp Vodehnal and husband Josh of Rosenberg, William Coy Coltharp of Houston, Shane Patrick and Luke James Rowley of Lufkin, Julia Renee and Karena Leigh Rowley of Katy, and his great grandchildren Connor Coy and Riley Marie Vodehnal of Rosenberg. He is also survived by his sister Bertha Ann Greubel and husband Robert of Indiana and numerous other relatives.

The family wishes to thank Vitas Hospice Care Services and Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services for all the love, dignity, respect and care they gave our father during his last days with us. We also thank our friends and families for their love and prayers. We will miss dad, but we know he is now back home with God and the love of his life, Gloria, and his son Jim.

A Visitation and Rosary will be held at Noon on Friday, February 18, 2011 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church located at 10330 Hillcroft, Houston, Texas 77096. Immediately afterwards, the Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. with

Rev. William A. Oliver, celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Thomas More Catholic Church or to St. Thomas More School “In Loving Memory of William Rowley”.