John David (J.D.) Rowland was born February 10, 1928 at Protection, Kansas and entered his heavenly rest the evening of August 26, 2018 at Hutchinson, Kansas. He was the eighth of ten children born to Claude and Martha Rowland. He graduated from Protection High School in 1946 and enrolled in Southwestern College at Winfield.

At college, he became the drum major for the marching band. At Southwestern he also met his lifelong love, Audrey Priddy. They were married August 28, 1948 and enjoyed 67 years together until her passing September 3, 2015. As newlyweds, they returned to Protection where he went into business with his father and later took over the business. He was very proud of his hometown and was very happy to be able to raise his family there. He was active in promoting Protection through church, civic organizations and business. In addition to being a home and business owner, he took other opportunities to benefit the community, through rental properties and most memorably, a food and fun establishment called the Hob Nob Inn. He joined the Masonic Lodge in Protection and was a member of 65 years at the time of his death.

He and Audrey relocated to Newton, Kansas in 1971, where he was an appraiser for Railroad Savings and other real estate entities until his retirement in 1990. He loved real estate and was always interested in nice properties. He and Audrey kept their own homes and yards beautiful and hospitable.

In their retirement years, J.D. and Audrey purchased a home overlooking Beaver Lake at Rogers, Arkansas and made it a place of beautiful gardens and wildlife. They happily shared the amenities of lake life with their family, neighbors and visitors. J.D. and Audrey traveled through much of the United States and enjoyed several trips to Europe and Canada. Since his father was an English immigrant, he especially enjoyed visiting family members in the British Isles.

J.D. was a Christian and always sought to be involved in a church community that was active and inspirational, regardless of denomination. In Rogers, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Rogers. There, he and Audrey were active in the Saints Alive Choir, which traveled and sang many places including the Glorieta Conference Center. J.D. loved to sing and throughout his adult life sang duets with Audrey, sang in community choirs and barbershop quartets. On the last morning of his life was humming along in harmony with his favorite hymns.

J.D. is remembered as a perfect gentleman and an outgoing friend who never met a stranger. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren dearly and delighted for any opportunity to be with them.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey, daughter-in-law Cindy Rowland, and eight of his ten brothers and sisters. He is also survived by his three children, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His children are son, John (wife Carol Ann and grandson Joseph Rowland), Beth Whittredge (husband Don, grandchildren Ben Whittredge and wife Amy; Erin Whittredge-Smith and husband Jay) and son Sid (wife Laurel, grandchildren Hannah McClellen and husband Drew; Mitchell Rowland and Katie Rowland). Great-grandchildren are: Alexis, Lily, William and Cecelia Whittredge; Jack, Cameron and Cora Smith; Addie and Alex McClellen. After the death of daughter-in-law, Cindy, J.D. inherited five grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren when John married Carol Ann. He also survived by his older sister Barbara Sangster and by his late sister Cathryn's husband Dean Hoover.

Calling times are from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, September 6, 2018, at Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, Coldwater, KS.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 7, 2018 at Protection United Methodist Church, with Pastor Wayne Stephens presiding. Burial will follow immediately at Protection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Protection Township Library or Protection United Methodist Church in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, P.O. Box 417, Coldwater, KS 67029.