Ernest Lee Rowe died at home in Hampton, Virginia on September 7, 2024. He was born July 8, 1925 in Foscoe, NC and grew up in Valle Crucis, NC. He married Dorothy Jean Poarch Rowe also of Foscoe in September 1943 and was married for 57 years until Dorothy's death in 2000. In 2004 he married Joyce Herndon and observed 20 years of marriage with her in August 2024.

From a small town in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Ernest and Dorothy moved to the Virginia Peninsula where Ernest began studies as an electrician and worked for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) at Langley Research Center. He continued working for NASA and contractors to NASA for over 40 years. At the conclusion of his career with NASA he was the Assistant Division Chief, Operations Support Division for Wind Tunnels. One of his projects was the Lunar Landing Simulator which afforded him the opportunity to meet the astronauts training for landing on the moon. His last 10 years were spent with Wyle Laboratories in support of the NASA Transonic Facility.

Ernest is survived by his wife Joyce, his children, the Rev. Canon Gary L. Rowe of Wilmington, Delaware (Leslie Acker-Rowe) and Pamela J. Rowe (Dennis Nodurft) of Newport News as well as two grandchildren, Leah and Daniel and a great granddaughter Kiera.

A Celebration of Life will be held October 25, 2024 11 a.m., at Langley Baptist Church, 116 E. Little Back River Rd., Hampton, VA 23669, where Ernest and Dorothy were charter members and Ernest served more than 75 years in many capacities including Trustee, Deacon, Building Committee Chair, Sunday School Leader, Baseball Coach and Facilities Team Lead. Please make memorial donations to the BayPort Foundation, referencing The Rowe Family Scholarship Fund. You may mail a check to: BayPort Credit Union, Attn: BayPort Foundation, 1 BayPort Way, Suite 350, Newport News, VA 23606.  You may donate online via the BayPort Foundation website at: www.Bayportcu.org/foundation You may also visit any BayPort branch location.  Please be sure to reference: Rowe Family Scholarship Fund when making donations.