Robert Rowe Obituary

The Reverend Robert Allen Rowe of Lake Placid died June 18, 2025, the day after his ninety-fifth birthday.

Born in Margaretville, NY, on June 17, 1930, son of Ernest and Winifred Rowe, graduated from Margaretville High School (1948) and served in the US Navy Submarine Service during the Korean War. After his discharge, Bob graduated from Syracuse University and Boston University and became a pastor in the Central New York Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving in Syracuse and Rochester as well as half a dozen other parishes in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier. Bob loved reading, especially history related to the colonial and Revolutionary War periods and the Methodist circuit riding preachers of that time; and he became very knowledgeable in genealogy, tracking his own and others’ family histories using primary sources and church records.

Bob was predeceased by his wife of fifty-five years, Mary Jane (Elwood) Rowe, and his two older siblings, Clayton and Arlene. He is survived by a sister, Virginia (Ginny), of Rome, NY, three sons, Robert of Atlanta, GA, Bruce (Susan Hoffer) of Lake Placid, NY, and James (Ellen), of Lyons, NY, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews.

There will be a burial gathering in the Margaretville Cemetery Annex with a view of Bob’s favorite mountain, Pakitaken, later this summer. Bob’s family wishes to thank all his caregivers and High Peaks Hospice for all they did for him during his final days. Bob will be remembered as a man who loved the mountains and forests, wildflowers and birds of New York State, and as a man who lived the principles he loved.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. Family requests that memorial contributions in memory of Bob are made to High Peaks Hospice in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can share their condolences and memories at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.