Stephen Palwin Rowland

Glade Spring, VA Stephen Palwin Rowland, age 63, went peacefully to be with the Lord on Friday, May 29, 2015, at Wake Health Comprehensive Cancer Center in Winston Salem, NC. Steve was born and raised in Johnson City, TN. He was a Graduate of Science Hill High where he was a star athlete and later attended ETSU on a football scholarship. Steve deeply loved his family, friends, and community. He will be remembered as a kind-hearted, selfless, compassionate person who put the needs of others before his own. He loved life and enjoyed being with people. He was creative, smart, and helpful, making him a great contractor and salesman. He was the former mayor of Glade Spring, VA, where he enjoyed serving alongside his friends and neighbors. He was Chairman of the Highlands Community Services Board, and was involved with many civic organizations and area projects over the years. He loved the Lord above all else. He actively sought ways to express his faith by demonstrating the love of his heavenly father through acts of service and kindness. As a member of the Church of New Beginnings, he expressed his love of music and powerful voice by singing with the praise team. He served and loved well. He is preceded in death by his parents, Grant Aulden Rowland, Sr. and Anna Pearl Roark Rowland; and sister, Gail Carmicheal. Steve leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife of 38 years, Darlene Bond Rowland; one daughter, Sydney Peltier and husband Matthew and two grandchildren, Reese Wynn Peltier and Cooper Josiah Peltier of Bristol, VA; brother, Grant Aulden Rowland, Jr. of Telford, TN; three sisters, Margaret Foster and husband Earnest of Johnson City, TN, Gwen Eads of Johnson City, TN, and Mary Ellen Reinhardt and husband Mike of Jonesborough, TN. Visitation with the family will be held 4-6 p.m., Monday, June 1, 2015, at the Church of New Beginnings, Forest Hills Drive, Glade Spring, VA. Funeral services will follow at 6:00 p.m. with Pastor Jeff Wallace officiating. Immediately following the service the family will receive friends for a time of food and fellowship at the home of his brother-in-law Charles Byrd, 12084 Tanglewood Drive, Glade Spring, VA. A cryptside committal service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, at the Colonial Chapel Mausoleum of Forest Hills Memory Gardens where Tony Byrd, Anthony Campbell, Larry Eads, Ron Hall, Dwain Lyons, and Don Montgomery will be serving as pallbearers. Those wishing to attend the committal are asked to convene at the cemetery by 10:00 a.m. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that offerings be made to the Church of New Beginnings building fund. The family of Mr. Rowland is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.