Rowell, Jr., William Alton

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Rev. Bill Rowell, Jr., was the son of the late William Alton Rowell, Sr. of Bienville , Louisiana and the former Velma Tucker of Gainesville , Texas . Bill was born in Dallas , Texas and grew up in a military family.

He graduated from Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, earned a B.A. degree in Speech Education from Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, Louisiana and a Masters of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Bill was ordained Deacon in 1967 and Elder in 1972. He served the Eureka-Streetman charge in Texas before returning to Louisiana .

During his ministry in Louisiana he served the following United Methodist charges: Doyline-Sibley, Quitman-Faith, Rayne-Branch , Iowa -Hayes, Eunice-Iota, McGuire UMC, First Arcadia-Mt. Mariah, Palestine UMC, First UMC Franklin-McGowen UMC, and First UMC Kenner. He served on the Board of Louisiana Methodist Children's Home in Ruston and was elected a Lifetime Member. He has also served on the board at Dulac Community Center and prior to Katrina he served on the board of Peoples Community Center . Over the years, he served on various Boards and Commissions of the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church .

Rev. Rowell was active in hurricane relief efforts after Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina. In Franklin he was recognized as Kiwanian of the Year for 1993-94 and served on the board establishing Habitat for Humanity in St. Mary Parish. Rev. Rowell taught English as a second language in Kenner and was active in the United Methodist Cursillo and the Kairos ministries at Angola and St. Gabriel. Early in his ministry Bill touched the lives of youth through his involvement with church camps and became a mentor for young adults going into ministry.

Bill loved to read and in addition to studying the scriptures, he read science fiction, mysteries, and westerns. He enjoyed camping with the family and discovering little known places.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Betty Morgan Rowell; one daughter, Adena Tulloh and husband Steve Tulloh; one son, Morgan Rowell ; four grandchildren, Dax Rowell, Drake Rowell, Tristin Rowell and Aiden Tulloh; one step-grandson, Jonathan Tulloh; one niece Jennifer Van Metre and one sister, Vicky Curry and husband J.P. Curry.