A legacy that lives on forever.
We would love to have you there.
The Rowe family would prefer not to accept flowers. We don't need anything more than your presence.
However, if you would like to honor Lionel in another way, there are a few things he loved: Coronado, history, and tennis. Donations are being welcomed in honor of Lionel Rowe at the two places below.
“I believed someone or something allowed me to be born, and that someone or something will take care of me when I go!”
We thought it would be nice to share life events from Lionel, written by Lionel. Every line below is quoted from his journal. Nothing has been reworded.
“I was born in a Catholic hospital called Mercy Hospital, located in San Diego, California, on June 16, 1932, at 1:09 in the morning. My parents named me Lionel Lewis Rowe, Jr.”
“My mother frequently repeated that when she was told that I was a boy, ‘I now have a son’ was her remark.”
“Mother was asked by the U. S. Government, while in Coronado, to work as a secret agent. She agreed and was sent to Moscow, Russia, to determine whether or not the Russians were gearing up for war.”
“It was a long time before Mother admitted that she was a spy for our government.”
“I was accepted into Storm King School for the Eighth Grade by Mr. Ansen Barker, who was SKS's headmaster, after a visit to my home in Washington D.C.”
“Daddy Dugan talked me into going to college, no matter what! I entered September as a first year man at The University of Virginia.”
“Daddy Dugan played a big role in my life. He meant so much to our family. He brought stability to us when he was not at sea.”
“I graduated from University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science Degree, with a major in Education, high school secondary level credential. I am ready to get on with a new adventure in life.”
“Working in Washington D.C. for the Budd Company was an exciting period of my working career.”
“I knew some of the congressmen, having met them at debutante parties I had attended over the years while in high school.”
“‘He’ came to one of the functions with his date, Adaline Blount. I was attracted to her right away. She was smart and fun. We danced to some of the party music.”
“It was but six months or so that we decided to get married.”
“My first-born son was Lionel Lewis Rowe III. He was born in the Piedmont Hospital on October 10 in Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia.”
“My second son, James Wilson Rowe, was born at 6:22 a.m. in the Piedmont Hospital on February 15 in Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia.”
“His weight was 7 lbs. 4 oz. I was 31 years old and Adaline was 28.”
“I resigned from the Budd Company in order to go into the pizza business in California.”
“Now that I was committed to moving to California, I talked to my mother and she suggested going into the real estate business with the Kinsella and Warren Realty Company.”
“I bought my first real estate in California, which was located at 204 Evergreen in Imperial Beach. My offer for the property was $26,000, one thousand more than the asking price.”
“It was about time that I stopped living in different places after my divorce. I therefore decided to look into living at Oakwood Gardens, Coronado.”
“On July 22, 1980, I paid...for 14k gold wedding band.”
“This was the year Buddy left Los Angeles and decided to come to Coronado to live with Sara and me.”
“Knowing that he needed and wanted milkshakes, I bought him an upright stainless steel milkshake mixer.”
“Sara was so wonderful about taking care of him. For example, once I entered Buddy's room and there I saw Sara on the bed with Buddy's head on her shoulder giving him comforting words. She was so outstanding with him.”
“I always said to myself that I hoped I would have the chance to build a train set around the ceiling of my grandchildren's room. The dream has now been fulfilled.”
“Jimbo, Charlie, Billy and I played doubles for the first time. That was three generations on the same court. It was great fun.”
“This is the year that I stopped teaching... My primary reason for ending my career teaching real estate is my desire to travel with my wife, Sara. Sara and I decided to take a cruise from San Diego, through the Panama Canal, up to Miami, Florida.”
“Sara and I visited the following ports in the Far East: Singapore; Sihanoukville, Cambodia...”
“What does one do when his wife dies after 31 years of a happy marriage and he is over 79 years old? Believe me it isn't easy.... I missed my soul mate very much.... I will always have a place in my heart for my Sara.... My deceased wife Sara would joke with me about purchases I would bring home. Like I have stopped buying used sweaters since she said I have enough.... Before my wife Sara passed away, she told me to get out there in life and give to someone what I had given to her.”