Adah Valencia Rowe b. 02 Jan 1929 Pittsfield, Pike, Illinois d. 13 Feb 1941 Pittsfield, Pike, Illinois: Lineagekeeper's Genealogy

Friends Mourn Sudden Death of Valencia Rowe

The death of Valencia Rowe, 12, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Rowe of this city, whcih occurred Friday evening in Our Saviour's hospital at Jacksonville from peritonitis, brought deep sorrow to the many friends of the family.

Valencia, who was a student in the sixth grade at the East building, had been ill the previous week with a cold. Her condition did not improve and a physician was called on Sunday, Feb. 9. By Tuesday, the doctor believed she should have hospital care but it was feared that the trip would be too much for her. Finally on Thursday morning, it was decided the trip must be risked. She grew steadily worse, however, until death released her from suffering on Friday evening.

Adah Valencia was born Jan. 2, 1929, the daughter of Lewis and Faye Tippetts Rowe. There are two older sisters, Eva Ann, a junior in high school, and Betty Lew, a freshman. The two sisters had a special affection for the younger girl from the day of her birth. They loved the lilt of the song, "Valencia", popular at that time and gave her that name. The family was closely knit by ties of affection and little Valencia was the center of it all, popular too with her schoolmates and teachers. When she went to the hospital, she had ready several Valentines to send, and on Valentine's Day, the day of her passing, her sisters mailed theirs to her so they arrived a few hours befor her death. Valencia was a member of the Christian Sunday school, and of the Girl Scouts.

The funeral was held at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the Plattner Chapel, in charge of Rev. J. K. Putt, assisted by Rev. Russell E. Booker. Her girl friends, Elizabeth Thomas, Helen Margaret Grimes, Helen McCarther and Betty Norval, cared for the many beautiful flowers. Casket bearers were Supt. J. H. Voshall, Wayne Koontz, Ben Reed and Robert Milstead. The other teachers and janitors came in a body, and served as honorary pall bearers: Fred Koepping, Joe Wolf, Arthur Musgrave, Leaton - Mink, George Kindle, John Codd, James Foster, Greg Sloan and C. A. Wolfinbarger. Valencia's father, Lewis Rowe, is one of the four janitors of the city schools.

The little body was laid to rest in the West cemetery, on the Tippetts family lot. Mr. Booker, in the funeral sermon, said: "There is nothing new in this experience which brings us here today for death is an old, old fashion, from the day of Adam until now he has been hanging his sickle on our garden gates, plucking our fairest flowers, sometimes as now, a lovely rosebud, for he claims the young as well as the old.

"Everywhere in the Scripture, death is likened to sleep, to the taking of rest in sleep. Of the little maid, daughter of the ruler in Capernaum, Jesus said, "Weep not. She is not dead, but sleepeth".

"It is only the body that sleeps. The real self lives on forever. This little life continues its growth and development in that eternal land made possible by Jesus our Saviour. He who loved little children, who held them in His arms and blessed them, has a place for this gentle child."

Mr. Book closed with the beautiful, comforting poem written by Mrs. Grace Coolidge upon the death of her son, Calvin, Jr.

Adah Valencia Rowe[1]

Adah Valencia Rowe^[1]