Rowena Francis (Thompson) Herald, 91, passed away January 22, 2018, at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kansas. Born in Wichita, KS on March 30, 1926, Rowena was the only child of Gladys (Wright) Thompson and Harry Thompson. Rowena’s early childhood was spent in Wichita while her mother completed chiropractic school and her father worked as a mechanic. They made their way to Liberal, KS where Gladys set up a chiropractic practice in a second-floor room on main street and Harry continued to work as a mechanic. Rowena graduated from Liberal High School with the class of 1944. She began working for the Rock Island Railroad as the secretary to the administrator. She proudly gave up that position to begin her new occupation as farmer’s wife when she married Ernest D. Herald on May 30, 1948. They made their home in Hooker, Oklahoma.
Rowena loved her new home and quickly became active in many civic organizations including the Hooker Garden Club, Main Street Beautification, and Extension Homemakers groups. She served as the Flower superintendent for the Texas County Fair. Rowena’s yard and garden were a source of joy for her. She freely shared her plants with others. She was always planting and researching new and better ways to nurture her garden. A friend once quipped that Ernest was lucky they lived in town, if they lived in the country he might not have any acreage to farm.
Even with her love for community and garden, Rowena loved serving the Lord more than anything. Studying the Word of God was a priority for Rowena. She worshipped at the Hooker church of Christ where she served as a Sunday school teacher, youth group leader, and she led study groups in her home. Summers were filled with trips to Quartz Mountain Bible camps or Roman Nose Bible Camp where she taught bible lessons or was the craft director.
Rowena, is preceded in death by her husband, Ernest and an infant son. She is survived by her children, Dan Herald and his wife Marva of Hooker, OK, Debbie Wilkins and her husband Bill of Houston, TX, and Mary DeSelms and her husband Shane of Mustang, OK. Grandchildren include Marcie and Jason Rudd, Gabe and Merideth Herald, Austin and Tenae Herald, Tammy and Keith Kuehn, Jennie Wilkins, Megan Salvatore, Matt and Amanda DeSelms, and Katie and Ryan Newby. Rowena’s great grandchildren are Lawson and Hudson Rudd, Jennings Herald, Lucas, Barrett and Bo Herald, Nathan and Katelynn Kuehn, Max Salvatore, and Kaden, Kaycee, Korbyn, and Kylin DeSelms. Because Rowena was an only child, her in-law siblings meant a lot to her. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Evelyn Witzke and two brothers-in-law, Keith and Jerri Herald and Doyle and Kay Herald, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.
Rowena’s life will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 29, 2018, at the Hooker church of Christ, Hooker, OK.Interment will be in the Hooker Cemetery directed by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home in Hooker
Memorials may be given to the Hooker Library or Hooker Parks and may be left at Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, Ok 73945.
