Joseph "Joe" Hilton Rowell

Joseph “Joe” Hilton Rowell, Sr., 73, of Bedford, VA passed away Thursday, June 8, 2023.  He was born in Waycross, GA on January 27, 1950, the son of Martha Jo Bullard Rowell of Bedford and the late Cecil Hilton Rowell, and graduated from East Southern Pines High School, NC. Joe was a proud U.S. Air Force veteran serving his country in Vietnam working on aircraft Inertial Navigation Systems.  After Vietnam, he was assigned to Keesler Air Force Base where he performed maintenance on technical school training equipment. He was also assigned to Andrews Air Force Base where he maintained Air Force One and other presidential aircraft. After his time in the U.S. Air Force, he was employed in the Air National Guard, then maintained large Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS) with PSC in Richmond, VA until 1994. In addition to his mother, Joe is survived by his wife of 49 years, Diane Failor Rowell, MD; three children, Joseph Rowell, Jr; Leah Franks, PA and her husband, Jerry; Robert Rowell and his wife, Darcy; five grandchildren, Noah, Katelynn, Elijah, Karly and Alex; his sister, Louise Mabry (Richard); brothers, Frank Rowell (Connie) and Jon Rowell (Karen). Joe was loved by everyone who met him and was a Jack-of-all-trades. He was a self-taught physicist as this was one of his passions. He taught so many others in mechanics, electricity, physics, science, construction, and music with so much enthusiasm and passion. He enjoyed playing music using the piano, guitar, and harmonica. He enjoyed building and flying radio-controlled airplanes and aviation, creating construction projects on the farm, hunting, fishing, astronomy, illustration and painting, farming, building and maintaining hot rods, cooking and grilling, photography, and operating his Ham radio. He enjoyed spending time with pets, having an occasional margarita, and enjoyed living in the country. However, his greatest joy was his family, being a loving father and grandfather.  The family will have a private Celebration of his Life on their farm at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Tunnels to Towers, Gary Sinese Foundation or to your favorite veteran charity.  Arrangements by Burch-Messier Funeral Home, Bedford, 540-586-7360.