Robert T. Rowland

Rowland, Robert Thomas, Sr., born September 16th 1934, in Brunswick, Georgia, passed away on January 19, 2012, after illness, in Melbourne, Florida, where he resided. Friends and family knew him as ""Bob"", ""Bobby"", ""Pop Pop"", and ""Uncle Bobby"", and in the late 1960s and through the 1970s, listeners of WQIK radio in Jacksonville, knew him as a happy-go-lucky announcer ""Rapid Robert"" where he worked in country music radio along side his brother Marshall. Bobby's career included announcing, sales and management at WQIK in Jacksonville, management at WQYK in Tampa, and owning and operating WAVW in Vero Beach, WCAC-FM and WITS-AM in Sebring, and WHKR in Cocoa Beach with his wife Gwen and their children. He was involved in civic organizations such as the Jaycees and Toys for Tots, was a 32nd degree Mason, and served as Commodore of the Pelican Yacht Club of Fort Pierce. An avid and experienced yachtsman, Bobby greatly enjoyed taking his family and friends on Bahama trips on the family boat for many summers. Bobby also enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting and photography. Bobby was predeceased by his wife of 41 years, Gwendolyn G. Higginbotham Rowland, and his brothers Ed, John and Paul, and a sister Dorothy. He is survived by: his children, Valree Ann Peralta (Douglas Peralta) and Robert T. Rowland, Jr. (Karla Rowland); his current wife, Sandra Rowland; his brother and sister-in-law, Marshall W. Rowland, Sr. and Carol C. Rowland; his grandchildren, Jessica I. Peralta, Teresa Peralta-Polniak, Robert T. Rowland, III ""Trey"", Kristen C. Rowland, and Walker V. Rowland; and several nieces and nephews including Marshall's sons Marty, Ricky, Brian, and Stephen who always considered their Uncle Bobby a second father. Funeral services will be at 1:00p.m. on Tuesday, January 24th, at Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home, 5400 Village Drive, Viera, Florida. Internment immediately following at Florida Memorial Gardens, reception to be held at Baytree Country Club, 8207 National Drive, Melbourne, at 3:00 p.m.