Philip Gilkey Pendleton Rowling Jr. Obituary (1933

BRUNSWICK - Philip G. P. Rowling Jr., age 82, died Sunday, October 4, at Winship Green in Bath, after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Born on Islesboro on May 20, 1933, he was the son of Philip and Leslie Rowling. The family moved to Rockland in 1941 where Phil attended school until he left at age 17 to join the Navy. Although he was a champion "school skipper" as a young man; he developed a real love of learning as an adult. He was a self-taught mathematician and went on to teach trigonometry to young sailors while stationed at Great Lakes. Whether it was math, history, poetry, music, star-gazing, cooking or trivia - he enjoyed sharing what he learned with his children, nieces and nephews, or anyone who was interested. He was a gifted bird and sign carver, story teller, calligrapher, marksman, and gourmet cook. He could do anything he put his mind to, and did it well. An avid Jeopardy fan, he often beat the contestants with the right answer (or question, as the case may be.) He married the love of his life, the former Arline Lemieux, on August 23, 1957. Together they raised a family, while stationed in several locations around the United States. Arline "held the fort" at home while Phil was deployed to distant places. He traveled the world during his twenty years in the Navy, sending home letters, pictures and memorabilia. He was a veteran of Korea and Viet Nam. In 1972 he was the Atlantic Fleet pistol champion and the All Navy Pistol Champion. He won the two rifles in the obituary picture in those competitions. He was also a multiple winner of the Maine State Pistol Championship and an active member of the former Oyster River Range in Warren, training many young marksmen in the Junior Rifle Team. After he retired from the military, he completed his college education, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Education at the University of Maine and graduating summa cum laude. He used his skills as an electrician in several jobs, including working for Bath Iron Works, Downeast Builders and Monroe Construction. He and Arline volunteered for many years at the Lobster Festival and the Common Ground Fair and were active church members wherever they lived. They loved going camping in the summer at Acadia National Park, and enjoyed spending many summers in their camper by the farm pond at Sunset View Farm in Hope. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Arline, and seven children: Conrad Rowling and his wife Cheryl of Pleasant Hill, CA; Debra Sewell of Clearwater, FL; Philip Rowling III, of Brunswick; Pam Grant and her husband Steve of Topsham; Patrick Rowling and his wife Julia of Greenville, SC; Penny O'Connor and her husband Mike of Guilford, NH; Priscilla Monson and her husband Dave of Haverhill, MA, as well as 15 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren; sisters, Jean Monroe and husband Fred of South Hope, Gail Flaherty of Rockland, and many nieces and nephews who affectionately call him "Uncle Booger". He was pre-deceased by two infant children, Paula Grace and Paul Gregory, and his sister and brother-in-law, Cora and Donald Fowles. An hour of visitation will be held at 12:00 Noon with a funeral service held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 9, 2015 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A reception will follow the service at the funeral home's 104 Limerock venue.