Gene Dowling Rowe, 82, of Martinsburg, passed away Saturday, August 5, 2017 at his home.

Born October 5, 1934, in Mt. Clare, WV, he was the son of the late Orion Arthur Rowe and Lottie Cottrill Rowe.

He was a Personnel and Safety Director at Musselman Plant Company. He owned and operated Tri-State First Aid Company until 1999 when he retired to Leesburg, FL.

Gene grew up in Eleanor, WV and went to Buffalo High School where he played football and basketball. After high school he attended Shepherd College where he also played football. Gene loved to canoe, fish, hunt, and was an avid outdoors man. He coached girls softball at Charlotte Prather Park for many years and he was also a great West Virginia Mountaineer fan.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Minor Rowe, whom he married November 25, 1955; two daughters, Charlene Weaver and husband, Norman, Patricia Caudell and husband Kelly; two grandsons, Travis Rowe, Ryan Weaver; and one great granddaughter, Ella Rowe.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by three brothers, Orion Rowe Jr., Walter Rowe, Jack Rowe; two sisters, Alice Roberts and Mickie Roberts.

Family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday, August 9, 2017 followed by a Vigil Service at Brown Funeral Home.

A Christian Mass of burial will be held 11:00 AM Thursday at Saint Leo's Catholic Church. Interment will be held at a later date.