Lois Natalie Williams Rowe, 108, of New Oxford, PA, passed away at Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community on January 24, 2024. Lois was born on September 3, 1915, in Blakely, PA, the third of six children, to George Theodore Williams and Mary Geraldine (Sitgreaves) Williams. Most of her upbringing occurred in a ten-member household full of music and politics. Lois lived with her parents, her siblings, maternal grandparents, and a great-aunt. Her father served as Prothonotary and Sheriff of Lackawanna County, PA from the late 1920s through the early 1930s. He also participated in many choir competitions (eisteddfods). Both of these made for an eventful childhood for Lois. In 1933, Lois graduated from Blakely High School. In 1938, Lois graduated with an RN from the Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.

While her nurses training was being completed, Lois eloped with Kenneth William Rowe on September 5, 1936 in Elkton, MD. Two children, Barbara Elaine Rowe (born August 7, 1941) and Kenneth William Rowe, Jr. (born January 23, 1948), were born to this marriage.

Lois lived in Blakely/Peckville, PA for the first 18-19 years of her life. She lived in Philadelphia, PA  from 1934 to 1938. Between 1938 and 1941, she briefly lived in Germantown, PA, and Johnson City, NY.  She lived in Berwick, PA from 1941 to 2008. The years were mainly spent on Fowler Avenue, Tenth Street, and Martzville Road. In 2008, she came down to live at Cross Keys Village (near New Oxford, PA).

Lois maintained a semi-active lifestyle and loved keeping a clean house. Lois painted ceramics, cross-stitched, enjoyed being with family, socialized with friends, and volunteered as a nurse for local American Red Cross activities. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi. She was a member of the Bower Memorial United Methodist Church in Berwick, PA. From 2008 to 2020, Lois enjoyed many weekends at Lake Meade (near East Berlin, PA) with family members and friends. She did the same at Chapman Lake (near Jermyn, PA) from the 1930s to the 1950s. Lois spent several winters in Florida with her husband and some, in later years, with her sister Joan.

She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Rowe, Sr. on April 19, 2007, her son Kenneth Rowe, Jr. on July 21, 2008, her daughter Barbara Steward on June 15, 2013, her son-in-law Ron Steward on December 12, 2018, her granddaughter-in-law Debra Steward on April 2, 2020, her brothers Edward and Gerald Tudor Williams, and sisters Elizabeth Grimes and Phyllis Whited.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law Sheila Rowe of Hogansville, GA, five grandchildren: William Bruce Steward of Sterling, VA; Chad Michael (Jodi) Rowe of Berwick, PA; Jodie Marie (Jason) Stewart of La Grange, GA; Kimberly Beatrice (Paul) Pullen of La Grange, GA; and Natalie Nichole (Riley) Haynes of Davidson, NC; six great-grandchildren: Patrick Steward, Chad (Amanda) Rowe, Jr.,  Anna (Richard) Cashman, Abigail (Ethan) Thomas, Kenley, and Eliza; five great great grandchildren: Olivia, Owen, Charleigh, Ella, and Ryker; a sister Joan Travis of Florida, and many nieces, nephews, other family members, close and special friends Kerri McCarthy and Barbara McCarthy, and other friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community (2990 Carlisle Pike New Oxford, PA 17350 or https://www.crosskeysvillage.org/donate/)  or the Adams County Library System (105 Locust St, East Berlin, PA 17316 or https://adamscountylibrarysystem.square.site/ ). A Celebration of Life, and subsequent inurnment at the Jermyn Cemetery in Jermyn, PA, will occur at a later date.

The Brethren Home Community
2990 Carlisle Pike, New Oxford PA 17350

Adams County Library
140 Baltimore St., Gettysburg PA 17325