GRACE ILENE GAMBLE ROWLEY, 89

GEORGETOWN, PA – Grace Ilene Gamble Rowley, 89, passed away peacefully Sunday evening, January 7, 2018 while surrounded by her grandchildren. A longtime resident of Georgetown, she will be greatly missed by her family and all those who loved her.

A daughter of the late George and Catherine Lunger Gamble, Grace was born in East Liverpool on August 31, 1928 and remained in this area the rest of her life, where she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

Music was always an important part of her life, and she had organized and led her own band, “The Mountain Folks String Band”, where she played the bass. She was a former officer in the Appalachian Folk Music Club, and also volunteered for the Hookstown Fire Department at one time.

On September 1, 2004, Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Lester H. Rowley, whom she married on April 16, 1945. She also was preceded in death by both her sons: Dale A. Rowley on June 1, 2007 and George W. Rowley on May 11, 2010.

Two granddaughters survive, Tracey A. Anderson and her husband, Tom, of New Cumberland, West Virginia, and Lisa G. Dillow and her husband, Jason, whom Grace affectionately referred to as “Charlie”, of Georgetown, as well as a grandson, Michael Rowley and his wife, Gerri, of Roundup, Montana.

There are three great-grandsons: Steven Michael Rowley, Tyler James McCoy, and Nicholas George McCoy, as well as a sister, Mary Robinson, and a brother, John Gamble and his wife, Joyce. Another brother, Joseph Gamble, preceded Grace in death.

Friends may visit Wednesday afternoon and evening at the Dawson Funeral Home where the family will be present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be conducted Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the Hookstown Cemetery.