Rowland passed away on May 27t, 2022 after a long and fulfilling life. He was born in Minden, LA on September 20, 1934 to the late Trenice Henry Ivy and Sybil Evans Ivy. He graduated from Minden High School in 1952 and headed off to Louisiana Tech. There he earned a degree in Civil Engineering, and met the love of his life in Dorothy (Dottie) Jackson. He went through college in ROTC and joined the Air Force upon graduation in1956. On July 5, 1957, he and Dottie were married and launched into Air Force life together.
Rowland was a lifetime example of how to provide for and care for a family, generation after generation. He believed hard work was the key to success and he worked from high school, through college, the Air Force, and then Exxon Pipeline Company. He retired in 1993, but came back as a consultant almost full time for 7 years after that. He is legendary for his love of working hard outdoors which he kept up until his late 70’s.
Rowland loved his family, especially his beautiful wife Dottie. They loved, laughed, and danced their way through 57 years of marriage. They loved hosting the grandkids for sleepovers, and some of the kid’s fondest memories are times spent with their cousins at Nana and Grandpa’s house. They followed the philosophy “What happens at Nana and Grandpa’s stays at Nana and Grandpa’s”, so the grandkids really loved their adventures there. Building relationships among all family members was very important to them, and they put time and effort into making it happen. If someone had an event, they were in attendance. They spearheaded an Ivy Galveston Family Beach vacation, hosting at first the core 16, and then welcoming spouses and great grandkids in for the fun. It’s been happening for 25 years and the tradition will live on.
Part of Rowland’s life philosophy was that humor is an essential ingredient to life. He practiced that right up to the end. He was well known for his one liners and wise cracks. He especially enjoyed needling his 5 beautiful granddaughters about various aspects of their lives. While everyone was fair game, it was all in good fun. He also liked to whistle and could often be located in the house by following the whistling.
He is survived by son David and wife Cathy, daughter Laurie Brown and husband Mike, son Robert Ivy and wife Michelle; grandchildren Brittany (Brown) Ehrig and husband Paul, Russell Ivy, April (Ivy) Tomon and husband Adam, Valerie (Brown) Harlan and husband Michael, Steven Brown and wife Christian, Jill (Ivy) Boddie and husband Michael, Courtlyn Ivy, and Connor Ivy and wife Jena; great grandchildren Melody Ivy, Aaron Ivy, Jennings Brown, and McCall Brown; sister Camille Heller; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rowland was a stand-up, hardworking, trustworthy kind of guy who devoted his life to his family. Our hearts are heavy but his legacy of love and laughter will be with us always. We are comforted knowing he is back together with his love, Dottie. We celebrate his life well lived. “If desired, donations to honor Rowland may be made to Avista Home at the address below,

Avista Home
11703 Echo Spring Lane
Houston, Tx 77065
Attn: Hannah Huynh”