Robert Ellis Rowe

Robert Ellis Rowe was born in Oklahoma City to Ellis and Waldean Rowe on August 28, 1947 and passed away at age 70 in Oklahoma City on November 25, 2017. He is survived by his wife Rosanne of Bethany, daughters and sons-in-law Jackie and Jimmy Lilly of Choctaw and Jeanne and Michael Davis of Oklahoma City, and stepson and daughter-in-law, Brennan and Cyndee Appling. Robert is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Charlotte Rowe, of Tulsa. Grandchildren are Zachary Lilly of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Zane Lilly and Abigail Lilly, both of Choctaw, Cady Davis, Preston Davis and Paton Davis, all of Oklahoma City, Ozzie Appling, Phoenix Appling, Grayson Appling, Alex King and Zeke King of Bethany. Robert also left behind 2 neices, Carrie Rowe Guheen and husband Colin of New York, and Cathryn Rowe and husband Sherwin Tibayan, of Texas. One grand-nephew Theo and grand-neice Willa, also of New York. Robert graduated Northwest Classen High School in 1965 and served as an Air Force reservist following graduation. He was an apprentice tool and die maker at Western Electric and spent the early part of his career as a tool and die maker at multiple companies in the Oklahoma City area. Later in life, he joined his father Ellis as an esteemed mechanic at Rowe Auto Service in Oklahoma City and continued to operate that business until his retirement. Robert actively supported Boy Scout Troop 84 and especially enjoyed canoeing trips to Canada with the troop. An avid reader, he was self-taught on many subjects. He was a man of strong opinions and was also known for both his love and deep knowledge of cars, particularly of Corvettes. He was also a lover of pets, having owned way too many over the course of his life, although he would disagree, expressing a strong opinion in the process. Did we mention he was a man of strong opinions? Prior to his death, he was able to achieve a dream of traveling to Scotland with his daughter Jeanne and was particularly proud of his Scottish heritage. He loved his wife Rosanne dearly and would often tell others of his good fortune in finding her. He also enjoyed close relationships with his daughters, his brother and several life-long friends. It could be said that Robert lived his life at his dad’s garage, which opened in the same year he was born. Robert’s grandfather, P.G. Rowe, developed the property, which also housed P.G.’s drugstore and a Texaco station on the corner that was operated by Robert’s other grandfather, Raymond Smith. Robert would often recount the joy he had as a boy and a young man just hanging out with his dad and grandfathers and, as he grew up, learning how to work on cars and with his hands generally. Robert inherited the property when his father died in 2001. There was literally no place on earth he would rather be and he continued to own the property up until the time of his death. A memorial service will be held for Robert on Friday, December 8th, at 1pm, at the West Side Lions Club Community Town Hall at 4135 NW 10th St., Oklahoma City, OK. Robert’s grandfather, P.G. Rowe and his father Ellis, were instrumental in founding the club. In lieu of flowers, the families ask that donations be made to an organization that was near and dear to Robert: Boy Scout Troop 84 PO Box 484 Bethany, OK 73008 To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert Ellis Rowe please visit our Sympathy Store.