Norma Rowland

Norma Rowland, 94, of Rushville, passed away at 6:40 AM, Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at her home.

She was born on January 24, 1923, in Schuyler County, Illinois, the daughter of Wesley and Myrtle (Rittenhouse) Paisley.  She married Thomas J. Rowland on March 24, 1944, at the First United Methodist Church in Rushville.  He preceded her in death on April 30, 2006.

Surviving are one son Thomas Lee Rowland and wife Donna of Jacksonville, seven grandchildren Kris Atwell and husband Corey, Kim Fruehling and husband Chris, Thomas Jonathan Rowland, Patti Murphy and husband Mike, Brad Greer, JoLynn Greer and Trisha Scott and husband Stephen, great grandchildren Morgan and Nathan Atwell, Sydney and Taylor Fruehling, Samantha and Lindsey Harmon, Brooke and Hunter Greer, and Jake and Cole Scott, two great great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, one daughter Linda Ann Greer, four brothers Kenneth, Jack and Lyle Paisley, and an infant brother, five sisters Doris Logan, Evelyn Akers, Minnie Stephens, Vera Crockett, and Mary Lou Phillips.

Norma was a graduate of Rushville High School and Illinois State University.  During her college years, she worked at State Farm Insurance and was the supervisor of the bookkeeping department and later as an assistant to the President of the company.  She returned to Rushville, to fulfill her passion for teaching.  She taught Bookkeeping and Shorthand for 25 years.  She later performed the accounting for the family business Rowland & Sons until 1986, when the business closed.  She and Tom served as Parade Marshalls for the Smile’s Day Parade in 1989.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Schuyler American Legion Auxiliary both in Rushville and a bridge club.  She was a founding member of the Monday Night and Tuesday Morning Ladies Golf Leagues.  She was the City Champion of the Scripps Park Members Tournament.  She volunteered at the HELP Center in Rushville.  She and her husband enjoyed wintering in Florida.

Memorial Services will be at 11:00 AM, Friday, June 23, 2017 , at the Wood Funeral Home in Rushville, with Reverend John Sowers officiating.  Interment will follow in the Rushville City Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Friday, June 23, 2017 , at the Wood Funeral Home.  Memorials are suggested to the Scripps Park Golf Course or the First United Methodist Church.