Ethel Rowe

Ethel Harden Rowe, 88, died Thursday, September 30, 2010, in Marco Island, Florida.

Ethel is the widow of Ralph Rowe, and the daughter of the late Charles Douglas Harden and Miriam Bull Harden, and the sister of the late Elizabeth Harden Welling and Miriam “Singie” Harden Ringer, all of Newberry.

Ethel moved to Marco from Newberry in 1998 and had loved her time there. She made many wonderful friends in Marco and was renowned for being the “Bridge Master” of her two weekly bridge clubs.

Ethel, fondly called “Etee” and “Little Charlie”, was a graduate of Newberry High School, where she was active in Glee Club and Chorus. The following was how her classmates described her on her yearbook page:

“Little Charlie is always into mischief. Where there is fun you will find her. She is a good friend to everyone and is well liked by all her friends and teachers. We hope you will go far and accomplish everything you start, Etee”.

Ethel stayed true to that characterization all her life. From her years in baseball with Ralph she has made and stayed connected to many friends.

She was a wonderful cook and is always described by friends and family as “the one of fed us literally and symbolically.” She also was “Momma and Grandma Nana” to a lot of people, friends and family alike, who found comfort and joy in her presence and nurturing.

Ethel was a very active member of Mayer Memorial Lutheran Church.  She was in charge of their youth group "The E E's" for several years.

Her granddaughter, Katie, was the joy and light of her life. All of her friends said that a day didn’t go by where she didn’t have something to tell them about Katie. She was so very proud of her and a highlight of her life was to be in NYC in May, 2010 for Katie’s graduation from college. Katie loved and was devoted to her “Nana.”

Ethel was a huge presence and will be missed terribly, as will her laugh, her willingness to “tell it like it is”, and her loving and caring heart.

She was predeceased by her adored, Ralph, and her beautiful son, Mannie. She is survived by her daughter, Charlene Rowe McEwen, her granddaughter, Katie Rowe McEwen, her son-in-law, Timothy James McEwen, her sister, Harriett Harden Gamble, her brother-in-law, Rev. Jullian Gamble, 4 nephews, 3 nieces, 15 great nephews and nieces; Charles, Carmel and Chuck McEwen and their children and grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 9, 2010, at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home by the Rev. Floyd Sides. Burial will follow in West End Cemetery. Visitation will be 12:30 p.m. until the hour of service on Saturday at the funeral home. She has requested that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the following organizations: Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled (Make checks to FFDD) 5621 Strand Blvd., Suite 206 Naples, Florida 34110 www.ffddnaples.org ; The Mannie Rowe Memorial Scholarship Fund, Metropolitan Ballet Theatre, 11460 Maxwell Road, Alpharetta, GA 30009 www.metropolitanballet.org

A memorial message may be written to the family by clicking the "Add Condolence" link below.