Dates
James William Rowland died on June 24, 2026, in San Angelo, Texas at the age of 76. He was born December 26, 1949, to Jack and Wanda Rowland in Artesia, New Mexico.
James graduated from Artesia High School with the class of 1967. The summer after he graduated high school he moved to Ruidoso, New Mexico with one of his good friends, Greg, where they were bellhops at a motel by the race track. That fall he continued his education at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico and graduated with a Petroleum Engineering Degree in 1972. He lived in El Paso and Midland and later moved to Aurora, Colorado where he stayed until 2023 when he moved to San Angelo.
James was an entrepreneur and ventured into several different businesses where he would meet and keep good friends for his entire lifetime. His hobbies were hang gliding when he was younger and camping and hiking. James always had a pet of one kind or the other from a parakeet growing up, dogs and at one point in his life he even had a rabbit that traveled with him everywhere. His current dog, Molly, was always by his side.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Wanda Rowland; grandparents William R. Rowland and Ruth Rowland; and J. J. and Gladys Starkey.
James is survived by his constant furry companion and best friend, Molly; his sister, Vickie Moreau and her husband Dale of Carlsbad, New Mexico; and his brother, David Rowland and his wife Debbie of Artesia, New Mexico. He is also survived by two aunts, several nieces and nephews, several cousins, and countless friends that he met and kept throughout his life.
Per James's wishes, he will be laid to rest at a later date with his parents in Artesia, New Mexico.