Orville L Tow

Orville Lavan Tow, 82 of Gadsden, AL., passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on February 9, 2014. Services will be held at St. James Catholic Church on Tuesday, February 11, from 10 o'clock until noon. Mass will be held following visitation with burial at Rainbow Memorial Gardens. Reverend Grayson Bean will officiate. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services directing. Orville was a native of Gadsden, graduated from Piedmont High School, attended the University of AL, Gadsden, and served as a radioman in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. He was an active member of St. James Catholic Church, serving in the choir. He was a fourth degree knight in the Knights of Columbus and retired from Goodyear after 37 years of dedicated service. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Ronald Lee Tow, his parents, Forney and Rosa Tow, grandparents, Henry and Josie Tow, brother, Forney Tow, Jr., and sister, Ellamease Simansky.

He is survived by: his wife, Norma Jean, sons, Mark (Becky) Tow-Gadsden, Bobby (Reba) Tow-Oxford, Matthew Tow-Gadsden, John (Tina) Tow- Birmingham, and his two daughters, Jean Marie (Jeff) Wright-Gadsden, and Marianne (Tom) Britton of Cullman. He has ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. His brothers are, Ronald (Mary) Tow-Gadsden, Jerry (Leah) Tow-Charlotte, NC, and Bill Stephens-Cropwell, AL. Sisters-in-law are, Lucy Tow-Gadsden, Annette Potter, Lucille (Ed) Loskamp-Pittsburgh, PA, and Dorothy Harrington and Lillian Bennett of Redding, CA. He leaves behind a host of nephews and nieces. The pall bearers will be his grandsons and his grandsons-in-law. An abundance of gratitude to Southern Hospice Care, especially, Brooke, Jennifer and Wanda. The family would also like to thank Dr. Thomas Corley.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. James Catholic School in Gadsden. His love of God and family was evident in all he did. He will be remembered as a quiet man, a wonderful person, and (to his wife) the nicest guy-Orville Lavan Tow.