Marshall Dwain Rowe

Marshall Dwain Rowe, 66, passed away unexpectedly on February 21, 2012 at his home in Morrisville, NC. Born on March 6, 1945 in Columbus, Georgia; he was the son of the late Laura Tillis Rowe and Theodore Alexander Rowe.

Dwain, as he was most commonly known, was a long time resident of North Carolina. He was a 1963 graduate of High Point Central High in High Point, NC. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University and continued his master’s studies at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Dwain started his career at Burlington Industries in mathematics and computer science before moving on to Kodak. His true talents were his creative and artistic gifts as well as connecting with people, which led him away from numbers and machines into a field of sales, advertising and media production. He was an artist and humorist at the core and became a creative entrepreneur where he dabbled in acting, clever marketing, and public speaking while operating his own advertising company from which he retired. He was an accomplished speaker and performer, appearing in over 150 television commercials and performing as Mark Twain on the renowned Mississippi Queen steamboat. His most recent endeavors included painting, community service, and serving as a proud marshal at Prestonwood Golf Club.

Dwain was a loving and compassionate soul that touched many with his with wit and charm. As a brother to his sister Debbie, he was a counselor, a protector, and an ever-calming presence. He was a dependable friend to all and a humorous adventurer. He loved being outdoors with his friends and family; his true passions were golf, camping, canoeing and painting with a special fondness for his two granddaughters and his adopted shelter pets.

Remembering Dwain are his son: Dwain Wilcox and wife Lisa and granddaughters Harper and Kara, of Winter Park, FL; sister: Deborah Hughes and husband Thomas K. Hughes of Midland, GA and nephew Benjamin Green of Athens, GA; his life-long friend and brother Jim “Camper” Sloop and wife Cassandra; his cat Wagner and a host of loving family and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 2pm in the Chapel of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home (200 SE Maynard Road in Cary).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in form of donation in Dwain's name to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Wake County at spcawake.org. Alternatively, checks can be mailed to the SPCA at 200 Petfinder Lane, Raleigh, NC 27603.