Obituary: Noble Spencer Rowden of Oxford, son of the late John Houston Rowden II and Sarah Caruthers Rowden was born November 6, 1921 at Oxford. He died August 13, 2000 at Fulton County Hospital in Salem. He was 78. Mr Rowden was united in marriage to Willa Rea Fleming June 11, 1942 at Melbourne. To this union one daughter was born. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge Hays #289 at Oxford, a member of the Oxford City Council and a member of the Oxford Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he was an Elder since 1946. He taught and Adult Sunday School Class and was past Sunday School Superintendent. During his working years, he was a farmer. He was also owner/operator of the Oxford General Merchandise Store for 19 years. He was employed by the Izard County Road Department for several years and he drove a school bus for Izard County Consolidated Schools for 11 years. Survivors include his wife, Willa Rhea of Oxford; one daughter and son-in-law, Willetta Ray and Glen Everett of Brockwell; three grandchildren, Randy and Loyanna Everett of Mountain Home; Leah and Andy Foster of Oxford and Glendon Everett of Brockwell; two great-grandchildren, Anna Kay Everett of Mountain Home and Amanda Alaine Hutchins of Oxford; two sisters, Rheadean Cooper of Cameron Park California and Edna Owens of Greenville, South Carolina; and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Gregory, Remmell, Dallas, and Bill Rowden; five sisters, Vesta Campbell, Johnnie Hames, Bessie Cliff, Phrona Hames and Mona Largent and his father and mother. Funeral services were held August 15, 2000 at Oxford Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Bobby Coleman officiating. Interment was at Oxford Cemetery under the direction of Cox-Estes-Blevins Funeral Home of Salem. - from the White River Currant, Calico Rock, Arkansas.
Added: Apr. 3, 2012