(Seattle) Jack Buford Rowse passed from this life on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. He was born to Russell Rowse and Viola Adams Rowse on June 6, 1923 in Hastings Nebraska.  

Jack served in the Army Air Corps in World War II in England and at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Ill. He met Laraine McCully at a Monticello College dance in Godfrey, Ill. They married on August 17, 1946 and moved to Chicago where Jack completed his Doctor of Optometry degree. They settled in Alton, Ill., and raised four children.

He was preceded in death by Laraine, his wife of 56 years, and brother Larry Rowse of Portland, Ore.

He is survived by his brother Jim Rowse of Wolfe City, Texas, and children Larry Rowse of Bellingham, Wash., Paul Rowse of Pineville, Mo., Julie Duquet of Mount Kisco, N.Y. and Mindy Rowse of Kenmore, Wash., along with six grandchildren.  

Jack practiced optometry for 40 years in Alton, Ill., and was a pioneer in the treatment of children’s visual learning disabilities. He was appointed to the President’s Council on Children under President Johnson.  Jack and Laraine remodeled an historic home in Alton, where they loved to entertain their friends and host dinner parties. They traveled extensively, including Europe and the Far East. They found their dream retirement locale on one such trip to Alaska.

Upon retirement, they moved to Orcas Island, Wash. and built a mountaintop home. Jack was referred to as “Papa” in his later years, especially by his grandchildren.

His children comforted him in his final days and have set up a memorial with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide aid to others with vascular dementia, here: http://act.alz.org/goto/JackRowse-Memorial.

Submitted by Jack Buford Rowse’s family.