Rowe W. Maxwell

MAXWELL, Rowe W., “Bill” age 82, of Centerville, passed away Saturday, June 16, 2007 at Southview Hospital. He was born in Dayton, Ohio at Miami Valley Hosp. on May 29, 1925 to the late Ralph Evan & Claudia Mae (Rowe) Maxwell. He was preceded in death by sons Evan B. Maxwell and Wesley D. Maxwell. Rowe is survived by his wife, Sara Barr Maxwell and children; Rowe (Teresa) W. Maxwell Jr., and Claudette (Lance) Maxwell-Kepple of Washington, DC.. He attended schools in Dayton. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and served with the 63rd Infantry division in France and Germany during WWII. He received a medal from the French Government for his military service. After the war he served with armored outfit and 196th Signal Photo in Camp Gruber, Oklahoma. After discharge he returned to his job at WPAFB where he had been employed since 1941. He photographed research projects until retirement in 1974. He was co-inventor of underwater camera housings used in underwater research, and supervised an underwater camera crew for aerospace medical lab. During his 33 years at WPAFB he photographed such projects as the Atomic Bomb test in Nevada, engineering projects, light test projects, medical operations and projects that ranged from research labs to aerial and underwater projects. He was deeply interested in supervisory management as well. After retirement Rowe was appointed to the Wright “B” Flyer Board, serving on the board and advisory board for the next 30 years and was appointed to the Draft Board by President Reagan. Rowe volunteered with many organizations including: the American Red Cross – Disaster Action Group; the Boy Scouts of America, serving on the local Troop Board for 25 years; the Sunrise Center Advisory Board for 10 years, the Huffman Hills Council for 4 years where he served as Chairperson and Chairman of the Advisory Board; the Southeast Priority Board where for 5 years he served as the Chairperson of Human Services Sub-committee; the Eastern Area Council, Inc. where he served as Chairperson and Vice-president; and the Neighborhood Leadership Institute for 8 years. Rowe was nominated for the Senior Citizen Hall of Fame and was a 32nd degree Free and Accepted Mason and Scottish Rite for over 50 years. He was a member of the Church of the Covenants for over 50 years and now a member of Oakcreek United Church of Christ. Memorial services will be held Wednesday June 20, 2007 at 11:00 AM at Oakcreek United Church of Christ, 5280 Bigger Rd., Kettering, with Rev. Ed Smith officiating. Inurnment in Miami Valley Memory Gardens. In memory of Rowe, contributions may be made to the Wesley D. Maxwell children’s education fund, c/o Wright-Patt Credit Union, 101 E. Alex Bell Rd. Centerville, OH 45459 or the American Heart Association, PO Box 182039, Dept. 013, Columbus, OH 43218 or the American Cancer Association, 40 S. Perry St., Dayton, OH 45402. For condolences and other remembrances please visit the Routsong website at www.routsong.com.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429