Rest in Peace: Jim Rowe (1955-2004)

[KLCoombs]

I just received the devastating news that Jim Rowe died yesterday. Attached is the text of the email sent out by Terry Treat, commander of the Black Horse Troop. Funeral arrangments have not been made yet and if you want to be kept informed, please email Terry with your email address, at tjtreat@firstcommand.com

This is just unbelievable and I'm still in shock. If anyone had everything in th world to live for, Jim did. A real light has gone out in the cavalry reenacting hobby. Please remember him in your prayers.

--Kathryn Coombs

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Text of Terry's email follows:

Friends: It is my sad duty to notify you of the death, by suicide, of
our friend and fellow trooper, Jim Rowe, on Sunday, Feb 8. All I can
offer at this point in the way of explanation is that Jim, within the
last few days, was forced to a decision to close his business,
Mid-County Feed in Warrenton.
We shall miss him dearly.
Please help to disseminate this sad news to those who knew Jim. Instruct
those who want details about Jim's final arrangements, which I will
publish as soon as I can, to provide me with their e-mail address. I
will meet with Jim's wife, Margaret, tomorrow to help her with the
planning.
YHS,
Terry Treat
Commanding, The Black Horse

[Coley Adair]

Jim Rowe was a fine man, he will be missed.

[CJSchumacher]

Kathryn,

Please tell me this is somehow a mistake! This is horrible news! I was just over at his home for dinner three weeks ago while I was in the area. What a true gentleman and a fine horseman. I'll miss him greatly.

Please keep me informed as you hear more.

cjschu76@yahoo.com

Thanks.

Chris

[GBaylor]

I just really can't find the words, but to say that Jim was damned fine horseman and a true gentleman. I know I'll truly miss him.

John Sweeney

[paulcalloway]

Jim has been a contributer around here for a long time and is really going to be missed.

We have placed a small tribute on the front page. My most sincere condolences to his wife Margaret and their family.

[Charles Heath]

Kathryn,

Thank you so much for posting this tragic news. As the word gets out, a good number of folks, particularly in the far flung cw cav community, will be in denial for days, and gradually move on to the other stages of the grieving process. Jim was one of the finest horsemen, a first rate gentleman, and had a wry sense of humor.

My deepest sympathies to his wife, son, employees, the Blackhorse Cav., and the rest of his family.

Dumbfounded,
Charles Heath

[lesterschumacher]

I was just talking with Jim last week about Ft. Riley and us getting together to teach me to jump this spring, in preparation for the Cav competition in September. I am devestated. My deepest sympathies to Margaret and the boys. Jim and I shared the same canteen. His presence will be missed. Always a smile, A helping hand, a friend to all. My hand is stretched in comfort to all. I have to go now.

Jim's Friend The Elder

Lester

Lester Schumacher

[Mike Ventura]

I am shocked and stunned at this sad, sad news.

Jim and I have shared many off-line discussions and emails over the last several years. I will miss his humor as well as his passion for horsemanship and this hobby.

My deepest sympathy to his family, close friends and fellow troopers.

We lost a good one yesterday, boys.

May he rest in peace.

[Ken Knopp]

Beyond exchanging a few e-mails, I did not know Jim personally so I cannot speak to that. However, I was always profoundly struck by his passion for the hobby. His abilities as a horseman and his zeal for knowledge and authenticity was renown and exemplary. Few went at it like he did and fewer still have done it so well.
I am so sorry. God bless he and his family.

Ken R. Knopp

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

I've read Jim's posts on this forum quite often......

My deepest sympathy goes out to his family....

Aaron,

[Linneus Ahearn]

This is a sad, sad day. Jim was humorous and helpful to just about everyone. He was also not afraid to play devil's advocate at times. His passing is a shock to me.

We had many discussions about horses and cavalry at our favorite online forums and over email. I was looking forward to meeting him in person for the first time at the Cavalry Competition in September where I expect we would have had many horse tales to tell. Jim's contributions and spirit will be missed.

[cavman63]

Tis a sad day indeed.
Happy trails Jim.
Patrick McAllister
Critters

[MICHAEL HICKEY]

Jim will be missed tremendously by all of us. He was a good comrade, great companion, superb horseman and source of knowledge. Stuart and I will count the time we got to spend with him as a blessing. Our prayers go to him and his family.

Tallyho

[Mike Ventura]

I received this from Terry Treat, Commander of the Black Horse and thought I would post it here for those who did not receive the email:

---------------------------------
Friends: Following are the details of events to honor the life of our
friend Jim:

Thursday, Feb 12, 3-5PM and 7-9PM, Moser Funeral Home in
Warrenton: Jim's family will receive friends. The Black Horse will
provide an honor guard. Moser Funeral Home, 233 Broadview Ave,
Warrenton, 540-347-3431.

Friday, Feb 13, 2PM, Moser Funeral Home: Funeral services,
followed by a graveside service at Brightwood Cemetery (just east of
Warrenton) commencing at about 3PM, followed by a reception at the
Fauquier County Fairgrounds (.5 mi from the cemetery) beginning at about
4PM.

Mourners, whose association with Jim was through the horse, are
encouraged to wear Civil War uniform, hunt attire, or other riding
attire, to the funeral and graveside services.

Jim's body will be borne by a horse drawn freight wagon, accompanied by
uniformed CW reenactors serving as pallbearers and honor guard, a
mounted representative of the CSA cavalry and of the hunt community, a
riderless horse led by Jim's son James, family and friends. Persons
wishing to participate in the procession should drive directly to the
Fauquier County Fairgrounds following the service at the funeral home;
those who wish to travel directly to the grave site may park in the
cemetery. The procession will organize at the fairgrounds and march .5
mi to the grave site. Following the service, the procession party will
walk back to the fairgrounds for the reception. The funeral service will
include a firing detail and the playing of "Taps" and "Going Home."

All reenactors who wish to serve in the honor guard and firing detail
are requested to wear full uniform, with weapons appropriate to your
branch, to include long arm, and black arm band. All in attendance with
carbine or musket are requested to serve in the firing squad; bring caps
and three rounds of blank ammunition. Please leave unit colors at home.
The only flag in the procession will be the Virginia colors draped upon
Jim's casket.

Margaret has requested donations in lieu of flowers. I suggested that
she allow the reenactment community to acquire Jim's grave site marker,
as our permanent tribute to our friend. Funds received in excess of that
expense will be donated to the Brandy Station Foundation in Jim's
memory. She enthusiastically agreed. If you wish to make a donation,
make your check payable to the "Jim Rowe Memorial Fund". You may mail
it to Terry Treat, FirstCommand, 5900 Centreville Rd, Suite 310,
Centreville, VA 20121; or give it to any member of the Black Horse at
the service.

Jim's obituary should be available on line at www.timescommunity.com by
Thursday. Select "Fauquier", followed by "Obituaries".

I will provide a map of the Warrenton area tomorrow, and phone numbers
for area lodging if you wish to overnight on Friday.

YHS,
Terry Treat
Commanding, the Black Horse
703-968-2622 (w)
540-347-3326 (h)

[CJSchumacher]

I know this photo doesn't pertain to CW, but I wanted to post a photo that Jim sent me just three weeks ago.

This is he and his horse, DaNang in 1965. Its hard not to have a smile on your face when you've got a good horse next to you. I'm glad to be able to say that Jim was my friend.

Moderators, my apologies, but if you could leave this up or if need move it to another, more appropriate place...I'd appreciate it.

Chris

[paulcalloway]

Chris -
Thanks for posting the photo and it's not an issue.

[courier]

Jim,
I'll see you on Fiddlers Green
Richard'Doc"Harris

[paulcalloway]

From the Fauquier Times - Democrat, Obituaries (http://www.timescommunity.com/site/tab2.cfm?newsid=10947892&BRD=2553&PAG=461&dept_id=506075&rfi=6)

Jim Rowe, owned local farm supply store

James David "Jim" Rowe, 49, died Feb. 8 at his home.

Mr. Rowe was the owner/manager of Mid-County Farm Supply in Warrenton. A native of Corona, CA, he held a bachelor's degree in agriculture from VPI and SU.

A well-known horseman, he was a member of the Casanova Hunt. He was a Civil War re-enactor and a sergeant in the 4th Virginia Black Horse cavalry unit.

For a period of time, he served with the Fauquier County Agricultural Council.

Mr. Rowe was involved to various degrees in other community activities as well, and is remembered for his generous, friendly nature and willingness to help.

For many years Mid-County Farm Supply provided the hay bales used at the Warrenton Spring Festival; often he would drive the delivery truck himself.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret Rowe; his parents, Annie and Ralph Rowe of Clemmons, N.C.; children Sean Andrew Rowe and James Edward Rowe.

Also surviving are a sister, Catherine Rowe Pherson, and a brother, Bruce Edward Rowe.

The family will receive friends from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Moser Funeral Home, Warrenton, where the funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13. Interment will be at Bright View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton OH 44720; American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1749, Vienna VA 22183-1749; or Fauquier Hospital Foundation, 500 Hospital Drive, Warrenton VA 20186.

From the Fauquier Times - Democrat, Obituaries (http://www.timescommunity.com/site/tab2.cfm?newsid=10947892&BRD=2553&PAG=461&dept_id=506075&rfi=6)

[10nycav]

This is a sad, sad thing. I had corresponded with Jim quite a bit online and greatly respected his knowledge as a horseman. I had hoped to meet him in person at the National Cav competition and discuss the finer points of jumping in a McClellan saddle, or perhaps go on my first fox-hunt with him the next time I travelled back East. But it is not to be. My sincere condolences to Jim's family and friends.

Ken Morris

[KLCoombs]

Terry Treat just emailed the following. I have posted the map that Terry sent out on the Black Horse website, at this URL:

http://www.blackhorsetroop.org/map.htm

Friends of Jim: The following (and above as an attachment) will help you navigate the Warrenton area on Friday.

To clarify further the funeral plans I sent out last night, do not bring horses. We don’t have the logistics to support a mounted honor guard. We will have five horses in the procession, two pulling the wagon, two with riders to represent the cavalry and the hunt community, and a rider less mount. Everybody else (I know we cavalrymen hate these words)…will walk.

Thank you for your support.

Terry Treat
The Black Horse

[SouthernFed]

I am so sorry to hear of Jim's passing . We had e-mailed back and forth . I only got to see him once for just a few minutes . Sorry I was not able to get to know him. Seems he will be missed by many.
Mine and JoAnn's Prayers go out to Jim and family
Ron & JoAnn Orange
12th Kentucky Cavalry US

[KLCoombs]

There is a photographic tribute to Jim on the Black Horse website at
http://www.blackhorsetroop.org/album/jim.shtml

If you have photographs that you'd like me to add, either email them to me at ms4tune@aol.com or post them here.

Thanks,

Kathryn
(webmaster, www.BlackHorseTroop.org)