Funeral services for Verlon Gene Rowe, age 91 of Jonesboro, LA will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, August 1, 2025 at Hodge Baptist Church with Rev. Randy Dark and Rev. Wayne Morrow officiating. Burial will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Jonesboro under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.
Verlon was born May 30, 1934 in Jonesboro, LA to Hansel Webster and Katie Mae Morrow Rowe and passed away Sunday, July 27, 2025 in Monroe, LA. Verlon graduated from Jonesboro High School and attended Louisiana Tech University for four years. With a strong work ethic, learned from his parents, Verlon began working as a teenager delivering milk to homes before each school day. He would begin his day at 3:00 AM, he worked until the milk truck would drop him off at school at 8:00 AM to begin his studies. Throughout his teens, Verlon also worked at the local pharmacy and movie theater, where he ate all the popcorn he wanted.
Verlon was drafted into the US Army in 1954 and served 16 months active duty in Korea. He received an honorable discharge in 1955. His adult career in the paper industry began in Hodge, LA at Continental Can Company, but in 1962 he joined Georgia Pacific, in Crossett, AR, where he served as Bag Plant and Industrial Relations Manager until he was transferred in 1979 to Richmond, VA where he served as Bag Plant Manager for the East Coast Division. Following his retirement from Georgia Pacific, Verlon returned to his hometown of Jonesboro, LA and joined Stone Container, serving as Production Manager of the Bag Converting Operations for their Southeast and West Coast Division before retiring in 1996. Shortly after, Verlon joined the sales division of Flint Ink before “officially” retiring in 2003 to relax and enjoy life on his terms.
Verlon was an avid outdoorsman that loved hunting and fishing. Duck hunting was his first love and he enjoyed doing that with his life-long friends in Arkansas. A life long member of the Bluff Trail Deer Camp in southern Arkansas, Verlon spent as much time that was humanly possible duck and deer hunting. When he was not hunting, you could find him on the lake fishing for crappie and bream.
Verlon was a member of Hodge Baptist Church, joining in 2001, where he served on various committees. He loved his church and church family and dedicated much of his time assisting church members where needed.
Verlon was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Vickie Fox; brothers: Donald Rowe, Jerry Rowe, and Tommy Rowe; and son-in-law’s: Ronnie Gibson and Steven Fox. He is survived by his son, Terry Rowe of Lafayette, LA; daughter, Dana Gibson of Calhoun, LA; brother, Harvey “Joe” Rowe of Jonesboro, LA; sister, Diane and husband Pete Gunn of Quitman, LA; sister-in-law’s; Sue Rowe and Regina Rowe, and long-time friend and companion, Beverly Slocom. Verlon loved his family and was a proud Pawpaw of his grandchildren: Jason Goodwin, Miranda Ricks, Jessica Ables, Hannah Gibson, Josef Rowe, and Thomas Rowe; and great-grandchildren: Bryce Goodwin, Kayden Goodwin, Luke Ables, Hudson Ables, and Olivia Ricks. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews that he loved and enjoyed spending time with.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jason Goodwin, Adrian Ables, Creig Dark, Andy Barker, Marty Weeks, and Jamie Ford. Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Pipes and Members of Bluff Trail Deer Camp.
Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until service time Friday at Hodge Baptist Church. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit: www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com
Flowers are welcome or if preferred, memorial donations can be made to the Louisiana Hunters for Heros Association. Information can be found at: lahuntersforheros.com
