Harriet H. Rowley

Harriet Loring Hull Rowley passed away on Tuesday August 7, 2012 at the age of 89. She was born on May 1, 1923 in Norwich Connecticut, the daughter of the late Joseph Osmond Hull and Lucy Williams Loring Hull.

Graduating from Norwich Free Academy in 1941 Harriet married Newton Edgar Rowley, Jr., son of Newton Rowley and Mary Aletta Morrison Rowley, on July 17, 1943 at Saint Patrick’s Rectory, in Norwich, CT. They lived for many years in Groton and Ledyard. While raising 5 children, Harriet worked for Groton Public Schools and Henny’s Gavebod. She was a devoted mother and tireless caregiver to her husband.

In 1983, Harriet relocated with her husband to the sunny climes of New Bern, North Carolina where they remained until Newt’s death. Returning to the local area to live near her sister in Waterford, she busied herself with her favorite activities: reading, gardening, genealogy, and baseball. She even took up kayaking along the Oswegatchie and could be seen daily taking her 3 mile walk.

An avid baseball fan, Harriet’s love of the game began when she was the scorekeeper for her husband Newt’s Little League team, the Groton Oiler’s. For many years she could be found behind the backstop at Washington Park, keeping the official scores for numerous Groton Little League teams. As a season ticket holder for the Norwich Navigators, she was well known to show up hours before a game to watch batting practice and deliver goodies to the players and front office staff. Seated along the first baseline, her pencil marked what she thought was the proper record of each game, and she occasionally visited the official scorer’s box to correct their scoring.

Harriet was proud of her heritage and was an amateur genealogist, amassing a collection of family memorabilia and documents. A member of the Faith Trumbull Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Mayflower Society, she was a direct descendant of many early colonial families of the local area including Brewster, Avery, Gallup, Hull, Loring and Wheeler.

Harriet was predeceased by her husband of 53 year Newton Edgar Rowley, Jr., who passed in 1996, her son David Edward Rowley, and brothers George Lewis Hull and Richard Patterson Hull.

Harriet is survived by 4 of her children. Gary Allen Rowley and his wife Pat of Jacksonville, NC., Cynthia Louise Rowley Truelove, and her husband Ed of Arvada, CO, Anne Marie Rowley, of Chiquapin, NC, and Lynn Frances Rowley Davis, and her husband Carl of Ledyard, CT. She is also survived by her loving and devoted sister, Barbara Williams Hull Eberle of Waterford, CT and brother, Robert Avery Hull of CO. Other family members morning Harriet’s passing are Janie Garza Rowley, widow of David Edward Rowley, and grandchildren Jeff David Benedict, Garret Newton DiFazio, Ryan William Rowley, Gregory Lance Bryson, Bridget Lynne Bryson, Erin Elizabeth Davis Sparrow, and Erik Christopher Davis, as well as 7 great grandchildren, the last born on her day of passing.

Following Harriet’s wishes, her burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory may be made to “Scholarship Fund”, Faith Trumbull DAR, 42 Rockwell St., Norwich, CT 06360

The family would like to extend their appreciation to the staff of the Groton Regency, Dr. Eric Fischer and the staff of New London Family Practice, and Dr. Francis Mireki and the Staff of Eastern Cardiology, for their compassionate care.