Obituaries : Helen Rowden

Helen Rowden, 89, passed away peacefully Thursday, October 29, 2020 at Windsor Manor in Vinton.

Graveside services 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 6, 2020 at the Urbana Cemetery with Pastor Susan Higdon officiating. Please wear a mask.

Helen was born October 12, 1931 in Urbana, the daughter of Clarence and Sadie Gilmore Hilliard. She attended school in Urbana, graduating in 1949. On June 1, 1949 she married William Franklin Rowden at the Little Brown Church in Nashua and the couple lived in Urbana. Helen was a member of the Urbana Methodist Church. She enjoyed outdoor activities and watching sports, especially the Iowa Hawkeye basketball team. She especially loved playing cards and board games with her grandchildren and spending time with family.

Helen is survived by her children, Gale (Janine) Rowden, Shellsburg, Robert (Sherri) Rowden, Urbana, and Sherry (Tom) Williams, Center Point; grandchildren, Kim Hotchkiss, Jason (Katie) Williams, Bobby (Kristina) Rowden, Whitney Stout, Charitey (Daniel) Robar, Wade (Margie) Rowden and Steve (Dee) Hughes; eleven great -grandchildren, two great -great grandchildren and daughter-in-law, Cheryl Rowden, Marshall, AR.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill, in 2013; son, Gary, in 2017; sister, Anna Carman and brother, Everett Hilliard.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Helen and her family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.