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Rowland Rhys Williams, longtime resident of Melville, passed away peacefully in his sleep during the early hours of Thursday, July 5, 2018, at the age of 98 years. Rowland was born in Wadena, SK, on April 23, 1920, the only child of Rhys and Ethel Williams. He moved to Melville with his family three years later when his father was appointed manager of North American Lumber. As a child, Rowland began his long association with the Melville First United Church attending Sunday School. He was educated in the public school system. During his youth, Rowland enjoyed riding horses and showing horses and cattle with his father in the summer fairs and at the Royal Winter Fair. He also enjoyed boxing, public speaking, cross-country skiing and hunting.

Rowland graduated from high school in 1939 and assisted his father in their new business, Williams Lumber and Fuel. This was the beginning of a career that spanned 47 years as the second-generation owner/operator of the Williams family business.

Rowland’s career was interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941 and served in Canada, United Kingdom, Belgium, Holland and Germany until his demobilization in November 1945. A few months after returning home from the war, Rowland married his long-time sweetheart, Evelyn Ziegler, on Valentine’s Day 1946. Throughout their marriage, they were active in the United Church. In their early years, they enjoyed the fellowship of the Couples Club and being counsellors for the Youth Club. Later, Rowland became a church steward and Sunday school teacher. Together Rowland and Evelyn enjoyed 67 years of marriage and raised a family of 7 children.

Rowland was active in his community as a leader of the 4H Beef Club for 11 years, an active member and president of the Melville Board of Trade and a long-time member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He was invited to join the Melville Rotary Club in 1963 and went on to serve on many committees and two terms as president. Rowland enjoyed visiting other Rotary clubs when he travelled in Canada and took advantage of the benefits of Rotary International as he and Evelyn travelled abroad.

Rowland was a good amateur photographer. In the early years, he photographed family events and later the beauty of nature. He had a darkroom in his home to develop and enlarge his own pictures. As the family grew up, Rowland and Evelyn had more time to indulge their love of travel, and he documented the sights on their trips around the world to Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Antarctica, South America, the Caribbean and at home in Canada.

Rowland was predeceased by his father Rhys in 1967, his mother Ethel in 1986, his wife and soul mate Evelyn in 2013 and his eldest daughter Elinor in 2014. Left to cherish Rowland’s memory are his remaining children and their partners and families: Nancy and Ed Boulet, Diane and Wayne McKee, Debbie and Derek Steinhaeusser, David Williams and Denise Ward, Maureen and Brian Gabriel and Bob and Cheryl Williams; 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.