Rowlands, William A.

William A. Rowlands Passed away 3 Sep 2010 at the VA Hospice, 
Palo Alto, 82 years. Born in Deloit IA, only child of Pearl 
(Hultgren) and Ivor Rowlands. In 1944 Bill and father moved to 
Los Angeles; joined the Merchant Marines at 16. Trained in 
Catalina, assigned to T2 tanker with the Navy for fueling ships 
at sea. Crossing the Pacific experienced a typhoon and lost deck 
cargo of 7 P38's. Bombs dropped on them in Moritai. Australian 
Corvettes dropped depth charges. Bill turned 17 years (17 Nov 
1944). Bill had good memories of many trips. Leaving the 
Merchant Marines then college where he met Joan Tallman 
Varian and married in 1950 in Halcyon CA. Resided in 
Hollywood, CA. Joan died in 1961. He met Mary Haensel and 
married in 1968 in Marion IA. Bill was a Salesman with AM Corp 
and Welty Way. In 1973 moved to San Jose. Bill retired in 1982 
and volunteered on the SS Jeremiah O'Brien in San Francisco in 
the Deck Dept. A highlight: In 1994 Bill went to Normandy on 
the JOB. The ship visited Paris, London, and sailed along East 
coast before heading home. Joined the SUP and sailed on 
container ships out of Oakland until 78 years of age. His many 
friends on the JOB were family to him. Survivors: wife Mary; 
Robert (Kathy) Rowlands, Hollister; Debra Rowlands, Halcyon; 
Howard (Carole) Haensel, Saratoga; Alan Haensel, San Jose and 4 
grandchildren. Buried in Los Gatos Memorial Park. Memorial 
pending. Contribution to the SS Jeremiah O'Brien appreciated. 
National Liberty Ship Memorial, SS Jeremiah O'Brien, 1275 
Columbus Avenue, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94133 
[www.ssjeremiahobrien.org] 

Published in San Francisco Chronicle on September 12, 2010