Billy Sam Rowe, born on the family farm in Krum Texas on January 23, 1946 would be the youngest child of 5 siblings born over 18 years to Robert Floyd Rowe and Iva Lee Measles Rowe. Robert worked as a farmer, a mechanic and a church bus driver and Iva Lee worked as a licensed vocational nurse. Billy was the youngest child of the 5 siblings with Bobby Gene as the oldest, Burl Dave, Sherry Lynn, Nelly Marie, and Billy Sam as the youngest. After leaving the family farm in Krum, the Rowe family moved to a farm in Whitesboro before finally moving to Sherman, Texas where Bill's father would die when Bill was 11 years old.

Billy began working at age 11 to help support his mother and disabled sister which would begin his life of working many physical laborious jobs. Billy was socially promoted through school and graduated in 1964 functionally illiterate due to a learning disability.

Billy graduated during the start of the Vietnam War and enlisted in the Naval Reserves out of high school. He spent a year in welding school in Dallas, Texas and began corresponding with a friend's sister from Denison, Linda Viola Young. They were engaged in 1964 and planned on marriage when Billy completed his Naval service. In 1965 Billy was activated and sent to Danang Harbor in Vietnam to patrol the harbor and coastal waterways. The two wrote almost daily even though correspondence took months to reach Vietnam and Billy would receive large packets of letters from Linda.

Billy and Linda decided to wed early during a week of leave on August 27, 1966. The two quickly moved to New Orleans where Billy continued his Navel service before an industrial accident where a broken leg would keep him from being reactivated for a second tour. Billy was granted an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy on September 16 ^th , 1967.

Billy and Linda returned to Dallas to continue their lives together, Billy as a welder, then selling and servicing Fire Extinguishers for Garland Fire Extinguishers and eventually Texas Fire Extinguishers, with Linda as a Christian educator and an artist. Together they moved into the Garland community where Billy also drove a school bus with the Garland Independent School district for thirty years, feeding and filling his obsession with Friday Night Football and sports. Billy drove for Lakeview Centennial High School in Garland for over 25 years and was even made an honorary coach by the school to travel with them to the State football playoffs. Billy and Linda would bring three children into their lives, Shirley Marie, William Samuel, and Michael Dave.

Being raised in a Christian home, Billy accepted a relationship with Christ at an early age, and even though he worked as a welder, he served as a lay pastor preaching a nursing home circuit with Lavon Drive Baptist Church in Garland, Texas for many years. His poor education and a learning disability would stop him from seeking ordination as a pastor but did not stop him from raising his children in the church. Together, Billy and Linda raised their eldest to become an electronic engineer, their second child to be a nurse practitioner, and the youngest to be a United Methodist minister.

Billy served as a youth football coach and a Scout leader. He enjoyed wood work and carpentry. After his health required him to retire at 70, Billy spent most of his days finally resting from years of long work, reading his Bible every day, and enjoying watching sports and television.

Billy Sam Rowe joined God through Jesus Christ in eternal resurrection on Saturday, November 5 ^th , 2022 after struggling with physical decline over the past year. He spent the previous week in Baylor Scott and White in McKinney, Texas. He spent his last days surrounded by his family and was in the presence of his wife, Linda, and granddaughter Micalyn and her fiancé Heath when he took his final breath and went home.

Billy is preceded in physical death by his parents and all of his siblings. The family witness remaining for Billy Sam Rowe is his wife Linda, his daughter - Shirley, his eldest son, wife, and children - William, Jennifer, Alex (active duty Marines) and Nicholas, and his youngest son, wife, and children - Michael, Carolyn, Micalyn and fiancé Heath Redmond, and Gabriel and partner D'Nasha Henderson. Billy's life is also witnessed by their life group and church members of Gateway Church.

The celebration of life in Christian Worship will be held on Thursday morning, December 1 ^st , 2022 at Gateway Church, Dallas Campus at 12123 Hillcrest Road. A community family visitation will be at 10 AM with the service to begin at 11 AM. Billy will be interred with Military Honors at DFW National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, at 2 PM. Reverend Michael Rowe will officiate the Celebration of Life Funeral Service. Memorials may be made to the faith community or charity of your choice.