James Alfred Rowton

Dr. James “Al” Alfred Rowton

Dr. James “Al” Alfred Rowton, 74, of Benton, TN passed away Saturday, April 15, 2017 in a Chattanooga hospital.  While journeying through his life in this world, Al experienced many blessings and occasions that he thought were problems, but turned out to be blessings due to a loving Heavenly Father who transformed him through them.  He first asked the Lord Jesus Christ to come into his life at 9 years of age in Kosciusko, MS and was baptized in the First Baptist Church there. 

Al was involved in scouting through Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and Order of Arrow.  He graduated from Murrah High school in Jackson, MS and attended the University of Arkansas for two years where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.  Al transferred to Emory University in Atlanta and after undergraduate training he entered Emory University School of Dentistry and graduated in 1967 with his DDS. 

He served in the United States Army Dental Corp at Ft. Belvoir, VA and following his military commitment Al began a private practice in general dentistry in Americus, GA .  While in Americus he recommitted his life to his Lord Jesus Christ.  Al served in the Gideon ministry and later served as bivocational pastor at Dayton Baptist Church having been ordained to the gospel ministry by Americus First Baptist Church.  Later he served as a dental missionary to Mexico through The Missionary Dentist out of South Washington.  He returned to private practice in Statesboro, GA where he became involved in reconstruction of the mouth using dental implants and became a diplomat of the American Board of Oral Implantology.  During this time Al was blessed to be united in marriage to his beloved wife, Linda.  He also served as a bivocational pastor of Elmer Baptist Church.  After that they moved to Big Canoe, GA where he maintained a part-time practice in Jasper, GA and following his retirement they moved to Benton, TN where they served their Lord as a teacher at First Baptist Church.

It was Al’s greatest desire as he departed the earth to enter into the presence of his wonderful and gracious Father and Savior that his children, grandchildren, extended family and others that he encountered during his earthly pilgrimage would forgive his failures and find the joy, the peace and the love that is found only in God’s provision for our forgiveness and the blessed life that comes through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Al looks forward to being reunited with you at the wonderful place prepared for all of God’s people.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Alfred and Hazel Louise Haigwood Rowton.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Crosby Rowton of Benton; children, William Rowton of Moore, SC, Emily Rowton Russell (Aaron) of Kennesaw, GA, Greg Deal (Lara) of Peachtree City, GA, Tammy Deal of Fl.; grandchildren, Ryan Deal and Cali Deal, both of Peachtree City, Rhys Bruning and Tanner Bruning, both of Tampa, FL, Emma Musser, Greyson Russell and Isla Russell, all of Kennesaw, Melissa Sahai of TX and Gabriel Mustromano of Moorhead, MN; daughter-in-law, Susan Musser of Richmond, VA; son-in-law Ken Bruning; cousins, Elizabeth Sheffer (Eric) of Ft. Smith, AR, Karen Haigwood and George Haigwood, both of Kansas City, MO, and Judy Shook (Roy) of Clarksville, AR.

The funeral will be conducted at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at First Baptist Church of Benton with Dr. Robbie Speights officiating.  Interment will follow in Benton Memorial Gardens with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. 

His family will receive friends from 2:00–4:00 p.m. at the church prior to the service.

The family requests that memorials be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 326, Benton, TN 37307

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Rowton family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.