Richard Carleton Rowe

Richard Carleton Rowe, 92, of Sullivan, died peacefully on Sunday, July 28, 2024 in the arms of his beloved family. Dick was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts to Henry C. and Fern (Hill) Rowe, growing up in a boisterous, loving household with his two sisters, Elaine and Fern (Teenie) and two brothers, Walter and Donald (Scotty). Dick was predeceased by his parents and his four siblings. Dick joined the Air Force in 1951, serving in Wiesbaden, Germany and Tripoli, Libya. In Tripoli he bought his first camera to capture the brilliant colors of the city and the sea, the start of his life-long passion for photography. After leaving the Air Force, Dick began his long career in food service, finally settling in New Hampshire where he met and married his love, Kathleen (Nute) in 1973. The marriage was blessed with the births of their beloved sons, Christopher and Mark, who learned quickly as they grew that their Dad loved to travel. An epic month-long cross-country road trip was sure testament to the strong bonds of his family and instilled in his sons the lure of seeing what’s over that next hill. Dick’s food service experience led him to managing the kitchen and dining rooms at National Grange Mutual Insurance Company in Keene, a position he held for 23 years, assembling a staff he held in high regard. Retirement was fine for only two years; he then took a cook’s position at Cedarcrest Center for Children with Disabilities, a job and group of people he enjoyed working with for the next fourteen years. Retiring again, Dick went home to be with Ted, his much-loved Golden, and to tend his gardens and growing family, whose every member he adored. A kind and quiet man, the focus of Dick’s life was always family; his greatest joy was putting on his kitchen apron to plan and cook the meals that gathered them to his kitchen and his table, always filled with good food, much laughter and his love. Dick is survived by his wife Kathleen, his sons and daughters-in-law, Christopher and Jennifer (Conant), Mark and Corinne (Ellsworth) and his four precious grandchildren, Mason, Gretta, Amelia and Harper Rowe. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Paula Rowe, Lee Lizotte, Cynthia Nute and Susan Nute, and his brothers-in-law, Robert Nute and Donald Smithies, and eleven nieces and nephews. There will be no calling hours. A celebration of Dick’s life will be held from 2-4PM on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the Sullivan Congregational Church Friendship Hall, 4 Church Street, Sullivan, NH. If they wish to, people may make donations in Dick’s memory to the Sullivan, NH Fire and Rescue Company, 440 Centre St., Sullivan NH 03445. His family is ever grateful for the Fire Department members’ many years of professional response and personal kindness.

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Richard Carleton Rowe

September 28, 1931 - July 28, 2024