Linton James Rowan Obituary (1919

Linton Rowan died peacefully at his Hood Canal home, 25 days before his 96th birthday. He was born in Bremerton, Washington, to James Rowan of Galveston, Texas, and Marguerite Dorr of Wiser Lake, Whatcom County. His two brothers, Ron and Wilmer, and half-brother Earl, preceded him in death. Lin played baseball and football at West Bremerton High, graduated in 1937, and married Patricia Bicknell, West Bremerton class of 1939, in 1940. From an early age, Lin was influenced by ships and the sea. As the United States entered World War II, he worked as an apprentice shipfitter at the Puget Sound Naval Ship Yard until he was eligible to enlist in the Army. He was assigned to a tugboat in the 376th Harbor Craft Company, and served in the South Pacific ferrying cargo from freighters and transports arriving in theaters of war. After the war, he served two years as first mate on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife vessel the Black Douglas, a research ship responsible for counting the seal population in the Bering Sea. After Lin and Pat's first child was born, he returned to working on land in Seattle as a sheet metal worker and welder. He was also employed as a draftsman for 20 years for Pacific Car & Foundry, mostly in their Structural Steel Division. While there he worked on the Space Needle, the Seafirst Building, and the New York World Trade Center, and was promoted to Head Draftsman. Lin, Pat, and their two children--Drucilla and David--lived in West Seattle near the ferry dock to simplify getting to the North Shore of the Hood Canal, where he and Pat eventually retired. His love of nature led him on many adventures exploring the Kitsap Peninsula and Olympic Mountains. Lin's trips up with Duckabush River with his son and grandson continued a cherished tradition that he participated in for most of his life. Although he enjoyed hunting, skiing, fly fishing, and hiking in the Olympics, carpentry was Lin's favorite recreational activity, and he remodeled and repaired houses on the North Shore until he was 80 years old. After Pat died in 1989, Lin married Shirley Burgess and was blessed to spend nearly another quarter century with her on the Canal. They left often to go to reunions of the Harbor Craft Company and visit children living out of state and abroad. On Sundays, they attended the Belfair Community Church with Shirley's mother, Harriet Gaufin. In many ways Shirley is the reason Lin lived so long. Throughout his life, Lin valued service to others. He was a Toastmaster, Pee Wee Baseball coach and scoutmaster. He worked on the Hood Canal Watershed Clean Water Project and Salmon Enhancement Group, was a charter member of the North Mason Lions, square danced with the Square Steppers, and ate many buckets of oysters from his beach. Many people considered Lin to be their friend, mentor, and second father. Lin was the beloved patriarch to a large extended family that includes many nieces, nephews, and descendants of close friends. Survivors include Shirley Rowan; his daughter Drucilla Rowan, granddaughters Erin Price (Jerry) and Shannon Rowan, great granddaughters Brenna and Hope Price and Drucilla Rowan; and his son David (Catherine Shornick), grandson Linton Rowan, granddaughter Grace Rowan, and great-grandson Ezra Rowan. Also surviving are Shirley's children Don Burgess, Jr. (Patty), Andy Burgess (Kim), Jana Burgess Hoberg (Chester), Tom Burgess (Marilyn); grandchildren Anne Burgess Kercher and Stephen Burgess; Jamie, Carey and Joshua Burgess; Heather, Julianne, Stephen, Stephanie, and Lochlyn Hoberg; and Mason and Calen Burgess. Shirley's son Tim Burgess predeceased Lin. The family thanks Joshua Burgess, Jeri Burgess, Sally Horn, Jennifer Fleckner, Lynette Dixon, Kelly Matthews, and Rochelle Maire for providing the home care that allowed Lin to stay in his home overlooking the Canal until the end. Lin didn't want a memorial service or funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the SightFirst Program in care of North Mason Lions Club, P.O. Box 793, Belfair, WA 98528.