Rubin Rowlett
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Rubin Rowlett, 88, of Benton, died at 6:50 p.m. Sunday, July 4, 2010 at his daughter's home in West Frankfort.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 8, 2010 in the Leffler - Poulson Funeral Home, Benton with Rev. Karl Barnfield officiating. Burial was in the Elmwood Cemetery in Centralia. Visitation was from Noon to 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Leffler - Poulson Funeral Home.
Mr. Rowlett was born on May 26, 1922 in New Concord, Ky., the son of Valdy and Mary (Armstrong) Rowlett. He married the former Ella Mae Groom in 1949 and she preceded him in death in 1968. He later married the former Mary Taylor Hammond on Nov. 25, 1976, blending their families as one.
Rubin was a former employee of the city of Benton, having worked as a meter reader with the water department. He formerly attended the Centralia Church of Christ. He was an avid fisherman and a dedicated St. Louis Cardinal fan.
He is survived by his wife Mary Rowlett, West Frankfort; five children: Timothy L. Rowlett and wife Rosalie, Peoria, Ariz., Rose and husband Guy Alongi, Du Quoin, Mary Alice and husband PJ Russell, Martin, Tenn., Bill Hammond and wife Julie, Benton and Peggy Hammond, West Frankfort; 12 grandchildren: Tim Rowlett, Peoria, Ariz., Christopher Rowlett, Salem, J.R. Alongi, Carterville, Shawn Alongi, Du Quoin, Deede Warren, Oakwood, Tex., Richard Gipson, Owensville, Ind.; Brandi Wingett, Princeton, Ind.. Sydney Hammond, Benton, Mike Hammond, US Marines, N.C., Nick Allen, Energy, Jordan Allen, Salem, Donald Bixler, Akin and Cristy Bixler, Centralia; 11 great-grandchildren; a brother: Wade Rowlett, Centralia and two sisters: Lucy Finney, New Concord, Ky. and Julia Parkinson, Centralia, and daddy's buddy Coco Lee.
Mr. Rowlett was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Ella Mae; a grandson, Angel Rowlett; two brothers: Bobby Joe and Andy Rowlett and a sister: Lucille Dunn.
Memorial Contributions may be made to SSM Hospice of the Good Samaritan and will be accepted at the funeral home.