Clyde Bruce Rowe

Clyde Bruce Rowe, 69, of Ceredo, passed away July 1 peacefully at home.

He is survived by his loving wife Jaylen Rowe; his daughters Lesli Forbes (Jesse) of Charleston and Casey Cipoletti (Jonathan) of Shreveport, La.; and his grandchildren Will (14) and Addie (13) Forbes and Luca (8) and Marco (5) Cipoletti. Bruce was also blessed to have joined Jaylen’s family and is survived by her children Dani Lynn Kelly (John) of Cincinnati, Ohio and Lakin McCann (Chris) of Mobile, Ala. and grandchildren Emma (11), Jayden (8) and Jaxon (9) Kelly and Finley (8), Judah (5) and Shepherd (3) McCann. Bruce was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend and will be dearly missed.

Born Oct. 6, 1954 in Huntington, Bruce was the youngest son of Robert W. and Monnie Rowe. He grew up in Ceredo in an energetic household full of laughter with four older siblings. Twelve years ago he reconnected with Jaylen, and the former high school classmates bonded over shared memories and quickly fell in love. They just celebrated 10 years of marriage.

He was an extremely proud father of two daughters, Lesli Forbes and Casey Cipoletti, who meant the world to him and who he loved and cherished with all of his heart. Despite the miles, his support for his daughters was unwavering – cheering them on in their high school activities, rooting for them in their college days, encouraging them to thrive into adulthood and celebrating their respective families and interests until his dying day.

A compassionate person, Bruce was a friend to many and skilled at maintaining and fostering those friendships throughout his life. He remained ever-involved with his close knit group of friends – planning trips, attending sporting events, concerts, golf outings, and enjoying life in every moment they could find together.

As a teenager, Bruce was a member of the Ceredo Volunteer Fire Department joining his father, uncle and many friends as a firefighter. He recalled responding to calls with his dad behind the wheel of the fire engine while he and his friends rode on the back step of the truck.

Bruce graduated from Ceredo-Kenova High School in 1972 and joined the Air Force as a firefighter that same year. He was stationed for many years at Lakenheath in Suffolk, England. While stationed in the United Kingdom, Bruce took the opportunity to travel the region and throughout Europe. He went to music festivals in the British countryside, learned to ski in Austria, enjoyed steins of beer in Germany, camped in the Swiss Alps and traveled across the British Channel by Hovercraft.

Following his time in the military, he moved home to Ceredo and began a career with Norfolk-Southern Railroad that lasted for more than three decades. He worked at rail yards in Kenova, Williamson, Norton, Va. and concluded his time with the railroad back where it began in Kenova in 2014.

Bruce was an avid music fan and loved a live concert. He watched The Rolling Stones and Elton John at Wembley Stadium in the 70s, Paul McCartney during a solo world tour and recently joined friends to see The Eagles and the Doobie Brothers. He was also a strong supporter of Marshall University and West Virginia University athletics – enjoying not only the games but the camaraderie of the tailgating experience as well.

In the 10 years since he retired, he has enjoyed traveling and spending time with his wife Jaylen, meeting up every few months with his lifelong friends for golf trips, endless phone calls and text chains joking with friends, helping out friends and neighbors with their lawns and home projects, visiting with his daughters and son-in-laws and spending precious time with his grandchildren who he loved dearly and who filled him with pride.

Whether the event was big or small, Bruce stayed up to date and involved with all of his grandchildren and his shelves and drawers are overflowing with their pictures and accolades. His joy for life and seemingly ever-present smile will live on through the terrific memories he created with his entire family. He chatted with them about music, movies, and video games; chaperoned field trips; cheered them on at swim meets and chorus performances; surprised them with balloons on their birthday; and was a constant presence in their lives. It was nothing for him to get in the car and drive 14 hours for a grandchild’s birthday party in Louisiana. In fact, he made one of those celebratory trips just the week before he passed.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents; brother Robert J. Rowe; and three sisters Nancy Barnett, Ann Rowe and Mary Sue Salyers.

Visitation will be 1-3 p.m. Sunday, July 7 at Rollins Funeral Home in Kenova with a funeral service immediately following in the Chapel. Pastor Scott Byard, a lifelong friend who enlisted in the Air Force alongside Bruce in 1972, will officiate. Interment will follow at Docks Creek Cemetery in Kenova.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the C-K War Memorial Community Center, PO Box 724, Ceredo, W.Va. 25507.