LEWES - Edward Nodal Rowlinson passed away peacefully on Thursday Sept. 27, 2018, at his home in Camden-Wyoming.
Ed was the son of the late James J. and Helen M. Rowlinson, of Blackistons, born Aug. 8, 1925 in Blackistons.
He was a 1944 graduate of John Bassett Moore high School in Smyrna. He married Alice Anne Burris in Nov. 1947. He did not attend college however, he was awarded an Associate Degree while working in Kansas City, Mo.
Ed was mechanically inclined working in machine shops and auto repair before going into machine design. He worked at International Latex Corporation in Dover, then at Westinghouse Aviation Gas Turbine Division in Philadelphia and Kansas City. He did design work on early jet engine parts, Nerva Nuclear Rocket, Titan 3 C Rocket Motor Cases and then power generating Gas Turbines. He procured the first computer-aided drafting system for the Division.
Ed left Westinghouse and moved to Astra/Zeneca in Aug. of 1976, again in the engineering department where he held several positions. Finally, as a Quality Assurance Inspector, which he held until retiring in Dec. 1990. He worked as a consultant until 1999.
Ed enjoyed the beach and spent many vacations with his family in Delaware, North Carolina and Florida beaches. He liked to sit on the beach and read a good book while getting a tan. Ed also liked to travel. He went to England, Ireland, and to Europe (France, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and Italy.) In later years, he enjoyed going to antique shows, auctions and flea markets. He acquired a collection of cut glass and china. Ed was an avid reader and had a large collection of presidential biographies and history books.
He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Dover and Washington Masonic Lodge of Wilmington.
He and Alice Anne decided to move to the beach. They had a house built in Nassau Station near Lewes and moved there in Jan. of 2002. Shortly afterwards Alice Anne was diagnosed with cancer and departed this life in May of 2004. They had been married 57 years. Ed was also preceded in death by brothers, Harry Gilson of Plano, Texas and James Jr. of Apopka, Fla.; sister Marlyn Busker of Dover and; son-in-law, Jack, of Milton.
In Aug. of 2007 he married the former Doris H. Walls of Dover. In addition to his wife he is survived by his son, Mike, and wife Robin of Wilmington; daughter, Terri McBride, of Milton; two grandchildren, Michael Rowlinson (Megan), of Wilmington and Noelle Mills, (Joseph) of Bel-Air, Md.; stepsons, David Walls (Jan) of Dover, Michael Walls (Debra) of Dover; stepgrandsons, Mathew (Lauren), Andrew (Tab), and Scott (Jackie); and step-granddaughter, Julie (Dwayne); three great grandchildren, seven step- great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will take place 12 p.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 209 S State St., Dover, DE 19901. A visitation will be prior to services beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will be 3 p.m. at Bethel Cemetery, Savannah Rd, Lewes, DE 19958.
In lieu of flowers the Ed wanted contributions made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 209 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901 or The American Cancer Society of Delaware.
Letters of condolences may be sent, and guestbook signed on www.torbertfuneral.com