Eugene Talmadge "Gene" Rowland, 1993-2019

Eugene Talmadge Rowland "Gene," 86, of Fort Pierce, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2019, holding his wife's hand.  Born in Sparks, Georgia, on May 17, 1933, he was the son of the late Jack Rowland and Kathleen Martin Rowland Smith.

Gene grew up helping on the family farm in South Georgia before joining the United States Air Force in 1951. He was a skilled Master Avionics Technician and he served one tour of duty in Vietnam in 1966.  He retired after 20 years of service in 1971.  In his post-military retirement years he lived in Northern Maine, where he had been assigned as his last duty post.  During those years, he worked in supervisory maintenance positions until he truly retired to enjoy life in the mid-80s.

In October 1982, Gene married his one true love, Irene Lebel.  Gene and Irene had a long and loving marriage. As a builder of things, Gene enjoyed owning homes and fixing them up.  He enjoyed working with wood, working in his shop, and always having the right tool for the job!  Gene and Irene spent time visiting family, flea markets, garage sales, taking Sunday drives, gardening – producing some awesome tomatoes – and enjoying a simple life in love together.

Gene is survived by his wife Irene.  He is also survived by his two daughters, Linda Jo Hartmann (Strafford, NH) and her husband Sam, Christina Lee Rowland (Rochester, NH); two grandchildren, Anna Lee and Steven Jarrod Hartmann, and one great-grandchild, Adam Hartmann.  Gene hailed from a large family and demonstrated his love for them by his willingness to lend a hand or to help out anyone in their time of need.  He was predeceased by six siblings, Earl, Jack, Cleve, Dorothy, Robbie Nelle, and Virgil, and is survived by his sister Betty Jean Rowland Belcher of Tallahassee, Florida.  At last count, there were 22 nieces and nephews who called him "Uncle Gene."

Gene Rowland's military funeral will take place at the VA Cemetery in Caribou, Maine in mid-July.