William "Eric" Rowley

William “Eric” Rowley, 82 of Lewiston, Michigan and formerly of Montpelier passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at his home.  He was born on May 4, 1941 in Cardington, Ohio to William S. and Pearlene (Fuller) Rowley.  Eric graduated from Lancaster High School in 1959.  On June 25, 1960 he married Ellen Hinton in Lancaster and she preceded him in death.  Eric proudly served his country in the United States Navy Reserves and the United States Army Reserves, where he met his best friend, Larry Brown.

He was a member of the St. Bartholomew Episcopalian Church in Mio, Michigan and Holy Trinity Anglican Parish in Hillsdale, Michigan.  Eric was a member of the Montpelier Moose and the Montpelier Eagles and was previously a Rotarian.  In 2021 he retired from Conversion Technologies International in West Unity, Ohio.  He had served on the Police Reserves and was very proud to have served as a Game Warden for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in Mahoning County.  He had owned / worked in the Insurance industry with Lincoln Life, Metlife, DeHayes and Associates and Invest America.  Eric was the founder of several start up companies, Soft Magic, Apache Arrow and Little Shaver Broadheads.  He partnered to co-invent the patented Truman Prismatic Monochromatic Light Microscope.  Eric also worked at Custom Fit and Chase Brass at one time.  He enjoyed hunting (especially for Morel Mushrooms), fishing, camping and spending time at his cabin on Oak Lake in Lewiston.

Eric is survived by his children William “Jeffery” (Cheryl) Rowley of Naperville, Illinois, Cheryl Rowley of Auburn, Indiana and Jill (Jeremy) Clinger of Montpelier; five grandchildren Lacey (Nathan) Troxel, Sean (Katie) Rowley, Scott (Maggie) Rowley, Jake Clinger and Jenna Clinger; five great grandchildren Chloe Troxel, Logan Troxel, Beckett Troxel and Cali Troxel, Trevor Rowley and another baby Rowley will be here next month; brother Steve (Sharon) Rowley of Scottsdale, Arizona; and sister in-law Lorie (Jerry) Kuyoth.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ellen, brother in-law Tom Hinton and so many close friends.

A time to receive friends will be on Sunday, May 19, 2024 from 2-4 pm at the Thompson Funeral Home in Montpelier.   A memorial service will immediately follow at 4 pm with Father Alan Feltner to officiate.  Eric will be laid to rest at Quarry Chapel in Gambier, Ohio at a later date.  Memorial contributions may be given to the American Diabetes Association or the Wounded Warrior Project.

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