Sharon Lynn Rowland is known as “Duf” to family and friends.
After high school, Duf’s grandfather encouraged her to join the military. She chose the United States Air Force. After boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base, Duf was sent to Andrews AFB, where she worked at NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
Her data processing knowledge made her a definite asset to NORAD, headquartered at Cheyenne Mountain outside Colorado Springs. NORAD radar systems are responsible for early warning missile and aircraft attacks flying over the United States and Canada.
After her discharge from the United States Air Force, Duf moved to Mill Valley outside San Francisco, where she worked for McKesson, Inc., the nation’s largest distributor of medical equipment.
Duf was an active outdoor enthusiast, so after retirement, she traveled to, among other places, the French Polynesian islands (Tahiti, Bora Bora and Mo’orea). Later, she journeyed to Arizona for an adventurous white water rafting trip on the Colorado River, through Grand Canyon National Park.
One of her favorite activities living in Belen was becoming an avid fan of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Through the years, she volunteered on chase crews, enjoying early mornings, excited people and, always, those colorful balloons.
Among her hobbies, Duf traveled around New Mexico photographing scenes everywhere in the “land of enchantment.” She especially loved photographing birds, spending many carefree hours at the Bosque del Apache, Bernardo and other wildlife areas. More than all other birds, Duf loved the hummingbird, regularly feeding her small visitors and providing water for bird bath’s in spring and summer. She also collected Native American art and pottery.
Throughout her lifetime, Duf faithfully flew the American flag at her home every day.
She was a leader at St. Matthew Episcopal Church in Los Lunas, where she served as bishop’s warden for many years.
Sharon Lynn Rowland passed away on Aug. 1, 2021. She was 79 years old. Duf was honored by her friends, family and her church leader with a ceremony at the Belen Veterans Memorial, where a brick was placed in her honor. Her final resting place is at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Mich.
(Editor’s Note: Each month the Belen Veteran’s Memorial committee will select one veteran from Valencia County to be honored.)
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
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May 2, 2024
