WILLARD ERNEST ROWE
May 17, 1923 – March 2, 2011


WILLARD ERNEST ROWEMay 17, 1923 – March 2, 2011
LOUISBURG – Willard Ernest Rowe, 87, went to be with his Savior and Lord Wednesday morning. He was the only surviving child of 11 brothers and sisters. He was born to William Ernest and Mary Elizabeth Nelms Rowe on May 17, 1923. He was born again on April 12, 1952. He married Daisy Brantley, the “jewel” of his life, on October 6, 1944.

He lived most of his life on his farm in Franklin County, N.C. On December 10, 1956, he surrendered his life to God’s call to serve Him as a missionary in Guatemala, Central America. After 4 years at Nyack Missionary College in Nyack, N.Y., he and Daisy began their work in Guatemala where they served for the next 34 years. While there, he founded 2 churches and served as pastor, one for 12 years and the other for 3 ½ years, after which they were turned over to the National Pastors. While pastoring the churches he also had a daily Spanish radio broadcast for 34 years. He helped to establish 4 more churches in Guatemala. During this time he wrote and published Bible messages in several Spanish newspapers and in 1968 he began publishing in more than 35 English newspapers in the USA. He returned to the USA to work in the Home Office of the Evangelical Baptist Mission where he continued the follow-up work with the Bible Correspondence Courses until failing health overcame him and the Lord called him to heaven.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Daisy B. Rowe; daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Dick Waters; grandchildren, Paulette Turlington and husband, Rick, Tommy Waters and wife, Jennie; great-grandchildren, Amber and Hannah Snyder, Rachel, Sarah, and Elijah Waters; sister-in-law, Linda L. Rowe. A memorial service wss held at Hickory Rock Baptist Church on Thursday March 3, 2011 at 2 p.m. The family received friends immediately following the service.

The family would like to thank Community Home Care & Hospice of Louisburg, N.C. for their love and care and also the congregation of the Hickory Rock Baptist Church for their loving support.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hickory Rock Baptist Church, 1580 Fire Tower Road, Louisburg, N.C. 27549.

Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg.

www.stricklandfuneralhome.net

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