GREENSBORO — Dr. William Boyd Rowan, 85, of Greensboro, died Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at Moses Cone Hospital.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Dr. Rowan was born January 27, 1927, in Trenton, New Jersey, to Dr. Henry M. and Margaret Boyd Rowan. He served in the US Army during WWII. He received his PhD from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY in 1954. He was a Professor of Invertebrate Zoology, Entomology, and Parisitology at the University of Oklahoma, Middlebury College, and the University of Montana. He also served as research scientist for the World Health Organization, in Puerto Rico and Africa. He was the author of numerous professional articles and of five fictional works and biographical memoirs. He was a life member of the American Society of Scientists and the American Legion.
In addition to his parents Dr. Rowan was preceded in death by his first wife of 43 years, Jeanette West Rowan and sister, Margaret Rowan. He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Effie Bennett Rowan; daughter, Kate W. Rowan; sons, Mark W. Rowan and Bernard K. Rowan; step-daughter, Marcia G. Bennett; step-sons, Albert C. Bennett Jr. and Gray R. Bennett; sister, Miriam Mallory; brother, Henry Rowan; grandchildren, Miriam Rowan Parrott, Andrew O. Rowan, and Patrick L. Rowan.
Memorials may be made to Doctors Without Borders USA, PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030.
Lambeth-Troxler Funeral Service is assisting the Rowan family.
The obituary and online condolences may be viewed at www.lambethtroxler.com
