Francis S. Rowe Obituary (1921 - 2017)

Portland- Francis S. "Toby" Rowe, 96, passed away peacefully at Mercy Hospital on April 28, 2017, after a period of declining health. Toby was born in Portland, Maine and lived almost all of his adult life in South Portland. He was the son of the late Francis and Sadie (Coyne) Rowe. Toby graduated from Portland High School in the class of 1939 and shortly, thereafter, joined the United States Army and served in World War II in a medical detachment. After the war he joined the Army National Guard and then served in the Korean Conflict. Toby was proud of his service, and this past October he had the privilege of visiting Washington, DC as a guest of the Honor Flight Maine Organization. He was employed at the Maine Central Railroad for eighteen years and the U.S. Postal Service, as a Letter Carrier, for twenty two years prior to his retirement in 1983. He was a longtime member of the National Letter Carriers Union. During retirement, Toby enjoyed being at his "camp" in Casco, Maine and visiting, fishing, and boating with his family. He enjoyed wood working, chair caning, and bird watching. He was a volunteer and supporter of the Wayside Soup Kitchen. He was a many decade communicant of St. John the Evangelist Parish in South Portland until it closed, at which time he joined the parish at St. Maximilian Kolbe in Scarborough. He was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Toby was predeceased by his wife of sixty one years, Sarah (Kane) Rowe in 2009; a brother, Thomas L. Rowe; two sisters, Kathleen Dowd, and Eleanore R. Tomusko. He is survived by a son, Stephen F. Rowe, MD and his wife Rhonda of Bedford, NH; two daughters Joanne M. Contois and her husband Richard Contois, DMD of Biddeford, ME, and Patricia A. Littlejohn and her husband Peter of South Portland. He leaves behind eight grandchildren, six great grandchildren, along with several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will recited at the funeral home on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 9:15am followed by a 10:00am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough, Me. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. To view Toby's memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com Those who wish may make contributions in Toby's memory to: Honor Flight Maine, PO Box 1770, Portland, ME 04104