Charles "Ed" Edwin Rowland, Sr.

Charles Edwin “Ed” Rowland, Sr., 87, of Geneseo, passed away on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at UnityPoint Health – Trinity Rock Island Hospital.  A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at First Baptist Church, 15300 Ford Road, Geneseo, IL, 61254.  Pastor Dave Murphy will officiate.  Burial will follow at North Cemetery of Geneseo.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Vandemore Funeral Home, 580 E. Ogden Avenue, Geneseo, IL, 61254.  Memorials may be directed to First Baptist Church in Ed’s memory.

Ed was born on July 4, 1938, in Toulon, Illinois, the son of James William and Rachel Ellen (Price) Rowland. He grew up in Toulon and graduated from Wethersfield High School. Ed was united in marriage on September 15, 1962, to Ernest Dean McCarty of McCurtain, Oklahoma, in a ceremony held in Denver, Colorado. He proudly served in the United States National Guard.

He found great joy in spending time with his family, playing golf, and was a lifelong, dedicated fan of Geneseo football, especially following the progress and cheering on the “Green Machine”.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Ernest Dean Rowland of Geneseo; children, Chuck (Marion) Rowland of East Moline, and Sherry (Cal) West of Corona, NM; grandchildren, Rebecca (Michael) Baramidze and Kelli (Jay R) Dunn; great-grandchildren, Serona Baramidze, Selene Baramidze, and Lyla Dunn; sister, Joyce Wade of Kewanee; and brother, Al (Sharon) Rowland of Geneseo.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, James and Rachel Rowland; grandparents; one sister; and nine brothers.

GO GREEN MACHINE!