Larry L. Rowell, 69, of Falls City, NE, passed away January 5, 2008 at Falls City.  He was born August 25, 1938 at Shubert, NE  to  the l ate Aaron  and Leola  F. (Kelley) Rowell. On March 21, 1962  he married  Patricia  Frye at Kingsland, GA.

Larry enlisted in the U. S. Navy on August 11, 1958 at Falls City, NE. He retired and was honorably discharged on October 31, 1986. During his tour of duty at Glenview, IL, the Naval Weather Service underwent a Navy wide reorganization. In anticipation of a downgrading of the facility, all civilian personnel were released, and all officers assigned to the NWSF Glenview were transferred to other facilities. He remained as the Senior Chief Petty Officer in Charge, with the responsibility of making a smooth transition from a Naval Weather Service Facility to a Naval Oceanography command Detachment.

The   downgrading   was  delayed   for   several   weeks,  thus  changing  the responsibility  from Senior Chief  Petty  Officer  in  Charge  to  Commanding Chief  Petty Officer.  His  responsibilities  included  complete  administrative  management of NWSF Glenview and subordinate detachments in Andrews, Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, New Orleans, South Weymouth and Willow Grove.

During this transition, NWSF Glenview remained in a successful operation with a minimum of personnel to fill the required billets. Also during this period the detachments in Atlanta and Detroit were closed with minimal difficulty. He remained on board in the capacity of Officer in Charge after the downgrading of NWSF Glenview to NOCD Glenview.

Larry was awarded three Navy Achievement Medals, two Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbons, six Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, four Vietnam Service Medals, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was one of only three First Class Petty Officers in the history of the Naval Weather Service to receive meritorious advancement to Chief Petty Officer.

Larry was raised at Rulo, NE and graduated from Shubert High School in 1956.  The couple lived various places following their marriage due to his service duty in the U. S. Navy.  He retired from the Navy in 1986 and they moved to Falls City.  He attended Southeast Community College in Milford and Lincoln, NE and earned an Associates Degree in Electronics at the Lincoln campus in 1991.  Larry owned & operated Larry’s TV & VCR repair located in Shafer’s Country Cable in Falls City for a while and in 1989 he began working part time at the Falls City Police Department and later going full time as a dispatcher.  He retired from the Police Department on June 16, 2003. He was a member of Good News Assembly of God Church and VFW Post #1765 both of Falls City.

Larry is survived by his wife Patricia “Pat” of Falls City, sons, Kevin and wife Jannine of New Hope, TN, Kyle and wife Theresa of Panama City, FL, Kristopher of Falls City, daughter, Alicia Adams of Falls City, brother, Lyle and wife Marge of Falls City, brother-in-law, Jack Walker of Falls City and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Rita Walker.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 10:30 AM at Good News Assembly of God Church with Pastor Brian Thomas officiating. Inurnment will be in Rulo Cemetery at a later date.

The family will greet friends on Friday, January 18, 2008 from 6-7:00 PM at Good News Assembly of God Church