GI Bride Obituary - Phyllis Joan Rowland, from Horton, Gower
Obituary for Phyllis Joan Rowland
Jan 11, 1918- Sept. 5, 2017
Phyllis was born at Westside Farm in Horton, Gower, Wales on the Bristol Channel. She was just ¼ mile from the beach and has always loved the ocean. She and her family moved to Knelston Farm when she was 12 years old. She lived there until she met and married my father, Roy Rowland. They were married in Saint David’s Church, Llanddewi, on Gower after WWII.
She and her family moved to Knelston Farm when she was 12 years old. She lived there until she met and married my father, Roy Rowland. They were married in Saint David’s Church, Llanddewi, on Gower after WWII.
Phyllis travelled to the U.S. on a Liberty Ship with 300 other war brides from Southampton to New York in 1946. The Defence Department put them in hotels in New York City while they made arrangements for rail transportation. They grouped the ladies according to their destination and put them on trains. Phyllis went from NYC to Sacramento, CA. and then on to Albany, OR where my dad picked her up. She lived in the same house in Corvallis > [link to Wikipedia] for 70 years and attended the Good Samaritan Episcopal Church. Phyllis loved to play Bridge and other card games. Her love of cards started when she was young playing at whist at church tournaments. She was a regular high point yearly winner at the Corvallis Senior Centre.
Phyllis didn’t learn to drive until later in life. I remember on my 15th birthday, she woke me up with “Get up, we are going to California this afternoon and you’re driving!” She did a lot of traveling with her best friend Ruth Freund, whom she met when they were Cub Scout Den leaders for Ruth’s son, Bob, and myself. She would also spend occasional weekends at their cabin at Hoodoo Ski Bowl. She travelled with friends to Hawaii, Florida, Washington D.C., Victoria B.C, Calgary, and Iowa. Phyllis did get around!
Phyllis was employed for parts of her life. She worked in a clothing store, Tina’s, across 3rd street for the Old Sunnybrook Restaurant. She also worked for the Green Thumb program that visited older people, and helped them with shopping, cleaning, and companionship. She was an avid knitter and made sweaters, socks, and other garments. She loved to sit and watch sports on T.V. while knitting. This resulted in over 1000 newborn baby caps which were donated to local hospitals.
Phyllis lived in her own home until her early 90’s when it became unsafe for her to stay there. She moved to the Corvallis Caring Place. When she fell and broke her hip, she moved to the Mennonite Village until she passed away peacefully in her sleep.
Phyllis is survived by her son, Steve and granddaughter, Ruth.
More GI Brides of Gower
September 1st, 1945 – Herald Of Wales
O’NEILL – FRANCIS
On August 28th, at Gorseinon Roman Catholic Church, Gerald, of US Army, son of Mr and Mrs Joseph O’Neil, Ashland, Pennsylvania, USA, to Doris Linda, only daughter Mrs Francis, and the late Mr William Francis, of Cae Bassett, Gowerton.
Friday 27th July, 1945 – SW Evening Post
RIVITO - THOMAS
On Monday July 23rd at the Catholic Church, Gorseinon, Corporal Carman Rivito, USA, eldest son of Mr & Mrs Rivito, Syracuse, New York, to Margaret (Peggy) Thomas, only daughter of Mr and mrs W Thomas, Mount Pleasant, Gowerton
Wednesday July 11th, 1945
LEMBO – JONES
The engagement is announced of Frank, Staff Sergeant, US Army, second son of Mrs and the late Mr FJ Lembo, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA, to Eleanor, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Edgar L Jones, 33 Sterry Road, Gowerton.