Rowe Byers

Rowe B. Byers, 95, formerly of Fayetteville, PA, passed away peacefully at Gettysburg Hospital surrounded by his family on Sunday, March 11, 2018. Born October 21, 1922 in Fort Loudon, he was a son of the late William Bruce and Pauline Katherine Byers. He was a 1941 graduate of the former Lemasters High School and served with the US Army during World War II from 1943-46 with the 11th Airborne Parachute Infantry Regiment in the South Pacific and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was assigned to the 86th (Black Hawk) Division in 1944, and received one of the highest honors given to members of the Army ground forces, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge. Following his military service he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree from Utah State Agricultural College in June 1950. Rowe was a committed member of the Democratic Party and in 1987 he was the Franklin County Democratic Committee Chairman. He worked throughout his life as an insurance salesman and Franklin County Jury Commissioner. Rowe was an effective member of the community as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, a member of the Chambersburg Noontime Lions Club, the VFW, BPO Elks Lodge #600, AARP where he served as a Tax Aide volunteer, and the George Washington Lodge #143 F & AM. He volunteered with the American Red Cross and was an active member of St. John’s United Church of Christ serving on the Consistory, as a youth adviser, and a Sunday School Teacher. He had a great love of family and was a devoted son, brother. husband, and father. He enjoyed being outdoors gardening, hunting, and working on his mountain ground and at his son’s cabin. His wife, Betty L. Kendle Byers, whom he married September 11, 1949, preceded him in death on September 1, 2017.

He is survived by three children, G. Brent Byers (Mary) of Baltimore, MD, Renee Byers (Rodney) of Chambersburg, and Brad K. Byers of Harrisburg; four grandchildren, Doug Byers of Levittown, Bridget Nadolny (Mike) of Baltimore, MD, Shannon Richard (Troy) of Lititz, and Amber Byers (Johnny) of Ypsilanti, MI; and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Eric Rowe Byers in 1990; three sisters, Ruth Byers, Mabel Miller, and Fay Hill; and two brothers, William and Lynn Byers.

A memorial service to celebrate Rowe’s life will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, March 26, 2018 at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 1811 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA. Rev. Robert Macfarlane will officiate. Interment with military honors by members of the Charles Nitterhouse Post 1599 VFW Honor Guard will follow at Lincoln Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00-10:30 AM on Monday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3551 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140 or to WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, Palliative Care, 147 Gettys Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

The family greatly thanks the wonderful nursing staff and Palliative Care of WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital for their compassionate end of life care to Rowe and his family. The family also thanks the caring staff at SpiriTrust Lutheran, The Village at Luther Ridge in Chambersburg.