Obituary of David Rowden Jr

David Vintson Rowden, Jr., 89, peacefully left his home in Flagler to join the Heavenly Father on Saturday, September 5, 2015. His wife and many family members were in his company at his passing. David was born January 30, 1926, to David Vintson Rowden, Sr. and Irma Bernice Conarty Rowden in Flagler, Colorado, their first child. He grew up with his younger brother Walter in Flagler, graduated from Flagler High School in 1944, joined the Army Air Corps until 1945 following the end of WWII when he returned home to help his family, and on February 6, 1949, married Flagler resident Doris Jane Stone. He was devoted to the Flagler community and his accomplishments in Flagler throughout his life were many. He spent his career working for and then managing the Flagler Cooperative Association for 41 total years. Along the way he was made an Honorary Chapter Farmer by the FFA Vocational Agriculture, and in 1993, two years after retirement, he received the Erwin E. Witte Colorado Cooperator Award for his dedication and service to the cooperative and rural communities. From childhood he attended the First Congregational Church, served as a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and other positions in support of the church, and he always took particular joy singing in the church choir. He joined the Flagler Volunteer Fire Department in 1949 and thereafter fought many fires as a volunteer fireman until retiring from the fire service in 1987. His involvement in the Flagler Town Council included serving as trustee in 1960, and mayor for two terms in 1962 and 1964. In 1967 he was instrumental in creating the Community Ambulance Service, attending classes to become one of the original EMT’s, and was on call day and night for emergency services assisting numerous eastern Colorado residents and others for the next 28 years. Following this he continued to help manage billing for the ambulance service for many more years. In 1968 he was appointed as vice president of the Community Medical Center and remained as such to the end of his life, as well as some time served on the Kit Carson County Hospital Board. He was honored by the Flagler Cemetery Board for having served for over 40 years, and also contributed efforts to the Sanitation District Board. As an Army veteran, he was active in the American Legion Post 81 for over 60 years providing ceremonies at dozens of Memorial Days, Veteran’s Days, Homecoming festivities and other occasions. David always felt very honored to have been invited by Mr. Alex Creighton in 1968 to serve on the Crystal Springs Foundation Board and he spent the remainder of his life helping direct the foundation’s benefits to Flagler recipients. David and Doris Rowden were married 66 years and together raised three children in Flagler: Bonnie Sue Rowden, Beverly Ann Nelson (both now in Fort Collins, CO), and Brian Paul Rowden (Flagler, CO).They have enjoyed seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His wife and family continue to love him and to remember his exemplary life.