Dolphus Edward Rowan Jr. passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, June 1st, 2008.

Dolph was born May 4, 1919, in Gadsden, Alabama, to Bertha Stanfield and Dolphus Edward Rowan Sr. After graduating from Gadsden High School in 1936, he worked for the Goodyear Tire Company but his heart was in the clouds. In 1937 he bought his first airplane and thus began his illustrious career as an aviator.

During World War II he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was a B-17 pilot, flying 25 combat missions in 1943-44 as a member of the 381st Bomb Group, 534th Squadron. He flew in the first daylight bombing missions over Germany and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, three oak leaf clusters, and five citations for participation in some of the greatest air battles of the war.

Prior to shipping oversees, Dolph wed the great love of his life, his Baby, Mary Morgan. They met on a blind date in Geraldine, Alabama.  He took her flying and she fell in love with the handsome young airman.  She rode a train from Alabama to Texas where Dolph was in training in Marfa.  On May 8th, 1943, she and Dolph were married in Alpine, Texas. The celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on May 8th, 2008.

Following the war and his return stateside, Dolph began his 33 year career as a commercial pilot for American Airlines. Initially based in Boston, Mass, he soon transferred to Texas, first living in Dallas, then moving to Grapevine.  In 1979 upon retirement he and Mary moved to Denton. Captain Rowan logged more than 37,000 hours of military and civilian flying during his aviation career.

In addition to his passion for planes, Dolph had a keen interest in horses and boats. While in Grapevine he raised and showed Quarter horses. In 1999 he received a plaque commemorating his 30 year membership in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

After a lifetime as a Methodist, Dolph became a Baptist under the guidance of Dr. L.L. Armstrong of the First Baptist Church of Denton.

Dolph is survived by his beloved wife, Mary, and his daughter, Pat Vassilakidis, of Houston, Texas, and his two grandchildren, Sophia and Alex Vassilakidis, also of Houston.

Dolph loved horses, eagles, and wolves, all creatures great and small. Above all, he loved God, country, and family. We honor his memory and his life as one of the "Greatest Generation".

Happy Landings

A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday June 5 at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Friday June 6, 2008 in the Cindy Nichols Chapel of the First Baptist Church, 1100 Malone St., Denton. Interment will follow at 2:00 PM at the Dallas - Fort Worth National Cemetery, Lane B, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX.