Hilton Lee Rowe, 81, son of Mary Ellen Van Houten and John Leonard Rowe, was born June 13, 1926, at Irondale. He died Aug. 21, 2007, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center at Overland Park, Kan.
He attended school at Houston while his father was a conservation agent in Texas County.
At age 17, he joined the Army and was stationed in Germany during World War II.
In 1948, he moved to Columbia, where he worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation. In 1954, he joined the Columbia Police Department. He enjoyed being a detective and retired in 1987 as a sergeant.
He enjoyed racing and riding his motorcycle. For his 81st birthday, he was riding his motorcycle and was involved in an accident which put him in the hospital for 10 weeks.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Cary Rowe; a brother and granddaughter.
Surviving are his wife, Patricia Rowe of Centralia; daughters, Brenda Rowe Bricker of Boulder, Colo., Stephanie Rowe Deis of Kansas City, Chris McCormick of Centralia and Jodi Nelson of Moberly; a brother, Harry Rowe of Stockton; a sister, Norene Head of Ozark; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
