Walter was the fourth child of Rev. Thadeus Murphy Rowland and Amanda Margaret "Mandy" Langston) Rowland. The older brothers of W. P. did not agree about his birthplace which was either Blanco or Scurry County, Texas.

Since his father was a Baptist preacher and tenant farmer, they moved frequently. In 1909 they moved to Tell, Childress County, TX. Walter and Jewel Mabry had been corresponding for some time. Their postcards, sent after Sunday morning services, would be delivered before the evening service.

Walter and Jewel planned to be married at the conclusion of the evening service of a revival; however, a rainstorm delayed their progress. Hence, they were married while sitting in a buggy in the middle of a muddy road near Tell on 29-Aug-1909. They had four children:

1. William King Rowland, Sr.
2. Ivy Ethel Rowland Bragg
3. Mandy Martha "Mart" Rowland Weathers, and
4. Rev. James Thadeus "Doot, Thad" Rowland

Jewel died in the flu epidemic of 1918 leaving him with four small children.

Walter married a neighbor girl—Marion Jane "Juanita" Weathers on 22-Apr-1920, at Shady Dale, Love County, OK.

Walter P. and Juanita had one daughter—

5. Julia Juanita "Julie" "Nita" (Rowland) (Hoover) Lester

Marion Jane "Juanita" died when Julia was eight months old. That left Walter with 5 small children. Julia was accustomed to being cared for by her dad and objected to ladies who wanted to hold her while W. P. preached. W. P. would hold Julia (sometimes with a wet diaper) on one hip as he preached.

Following the death of Marion Jane in November, 1922, Walter began to correspond with one of Marion Jane's first-cousins, Sallie Ruth Speake. The first time Walter's children saw Sallie Ruth was when he brought her home following their wedding in Gainesville, Cooke County, TX, on 27-Sep-1923.

Shortly after Walter's third marriage, Walter and family with other relatives moved to Colorado. The winter snows were not agreeable with the Rowlands, so they moved back to Texas—Montague County before November, 1925 when their first child was born.
Walter and Sallie had 5 children:

6. Babe Rowland, b. Nov., 1925
7. Pervia Ewin Rowland
8. Raymond Estol Rowland
9. Roy Odell Rowland
10. Nita Nadine Rowland Pressley

Walter was a member of New Hope Baptist Church, Burns City, Cooke County, TX, from July 5, 1913, to January 2, 1915.

As a Baptist preacher Walter performed over 1000 weddings and funerals. He started Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta, OK. He was pastor of every Baptist Church in Love County, OK, except First Baptist, in Marietta. Walter was also an author, an electrician, and a merchant.

Services for Rev. Walter P. Rowland, 94, were held in Marietta, OK, at the Eastside Baptist Church on May 31, 1985.

He was buried in the Rowland plot of Lakeview Cemetery, Marietta, OK.

1900 Census, Justice Precincts 2-4, Sommerville County, TX
Household Gender Age
T M Rowlan M
Spouse M M Rowlan F
Child J S Rowlan M
Child M L Rowlan M
Child H M Rowlan F
Child W P Rowlan M
Child H C Rowlan M
Child J C Rowlan M
Child F C Rowlan M

1930 Census, Gainesville, Cooke County, TX

Household Gender Age
Parent Walter P Rowland M 38
Parent Sallie R Rowland F 30
Ivy E Rowland F 18
Martha M Rowland F 16
Thadeus J Rowland M 13
Wuanita J Rowland F 8
Pervia E Rowland M 2
Raymond E Rowland M 0

1940 Census, Washington Township, Love, Oklahoma
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Walter Rowland Head M 49 Texas
Sallie R Rowland Wife F 39 Texas
Juanita Rowland Daughter F 18 Oklahoma
Pervia Rowland Son M 11 Texas
Estol Rowland Son M 9 Texas
Roy Rowland Son M 7 Oklahoma
Nadine Rowland Daughter F 5 Oklahoma

Walter P. Rowland
The Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, Ok

MARIETTA--"Services for Rev. Walter P. Rowland, 94, will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Eastside Baptist Church. Rev. Jamie Hill, Rev. Tommy Higle and Rev. Tom Cotten will officiate with interment in Lakeview Cemetery.

Born July 9, 1890, in Scurry County, Texas, Rowland died May 29 in a local hospital.

A resident of Love County from 1916 to 1923, he returned here in 1930 and had served as pastor or substitute pastor for every Baptist church in Love County during that time. He was preceded in death by three wives, Jewel in 1918; Marion in 1922; and Sally in 1967; and a daughter, Ivy Bragg. He was a member of Eastside Baptist Church.

Survivors include five sons: King, Gordonville, Texas; Thadeus, Glenwood, Ark.; Pervia, Fayetteville, N.C.; Raymond, Bossier City, La.; Roy, San Antonio, Texas; three daughters, Martha Weathers, of the home; Juanita Lester, Dallas; Nadine Presley, Garland, Texas; a brother, Arvin; and sister, Lovella Wolaver, Ardmore; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bearers will be Ralph Evans, Tim Campbell, Mike Barrick, Jeff McLemore, Carol Wayne and G. W. Flanagan. Grandsons will serve as honorary bearers.

Anderson Funeral Home will direct services."