Rowena Compton

ROWENA GREGORY COMPTON Rowena G. Compton was born at home on November 17, 1918 in Madisonville (Cincinnati) Ohio. She was the first born of Olivia (Olive) Talley Gregory and Thomas Moore Gregory. Rowena died on March 21, 2017 at Brookdale Willowbrook in Houston TX. Rowena graduated from Withrow High School and then the University of Cincinnati where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Mortar Board and Phi Beta Kappa. At age 21, she started teaching Senior English in Covington, KY before transferring to the Cincinnati Public Schools. On March 4, 1944, Rowena married her former neighbor and early childhood playmate, Ell Dee Compton, and moved to Boston, MA where she worked for the American Red Cross. In 1952, the family moved to Grand Haven, MI where Rowena was very involved in the League of Women Voters, Grand Haven Presbyterian Church, the Library Board and activities at her daughter's school. In 1958, Rowena resumed teaching - this time 6th grade. In 1961, the family moved to Toledo OH where Rowena continued to teach in junior high school settings, earned her Master's in Counseling at the University of Toledo and started her career as a junior high school counselor in Sylvania, OH and then Brecksville, OH after moving to the Cleveland area in 1972. Throughout this time Rowena continued to be involved in many community and church activities. In 1993, Rowena and Ell Dee moved to Wesley Glen Retirement Community in Columbus, OH where they enjoyed living next door to Rev. Harriette Gregory Zoller, Rowena's younger sister. Rowena immersed herself in activities at Wesley Glen, painting classes and various activities at the North Broadway United Methodist Church as well as taking many memorable trips after Ell Dee's death on December 25, 1994. In order to be closer to family, Rowena moved to the Brookdale Willowbrook Community in December 2012. She was able to enjoy many family activities which delighted her. Rowena's zest for life, intellect, positive outlook, curiosity and willingness to engage in whatever interests her grandsons had will be missed by her daughter, Olivia Compton Wall, son-in-law, Vincent John Wall, Grandson, Alexander John Wall, wife Kinsey Mitchell Wall and their sons Zachary John and James Mitchell, and Grandson, David Gregory Wall, wife Tamara Dawn Wall, and their children, Julianna Dawn and Luke Compton (who arrives in April 2017). She will also be missed by her Turkish "daughter," Esen Ulgenerk, her sister Rev Harriette Zoller, her sister-in-law, Margaret Compton Richardson, a number of extended family members, as well as numerous friends. A memorial service will be held on at Lakewood United Methodist Church, March 31, 2017, 2 PM. Graveside services and Interment will be at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, OH at a later date. A special THANK YOU to the staff of Brookdale Willowbrook Clarebridge 1, Brookdale Hospice, the Hospice Critical Care Team and the extended family and friends who offered words of support and came for visits during the last few weeks. In lieu of flowers, Rowena would have requested donations to North Broadway United Methodist Church (http://north-broadway.org), Wesley Glen Retirement Community (http://www.wesleyglen.com), Lakewood United Methodist Church (http://lakewoodumc.org) or the charity of your choice in memory of Rowena G. Compton.

Service Information

March 31, 2017 2:00pm, Lakewood United Methodist Church