Diane Church

(Janice) Diane Rowland was born to John Martindale Rowland, Jr. and (Janice) Gwendolyn Worley Rowland at Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas on October 13, 1942.

Diane’s birth came less than a year after "the day that will live in infamy." Her father was called to serve in the Navy during WWII and was away most of her early childhood. During his absence Diane and her mother lived with her maternal grandparents at their home in Oak Cliff. Her grandmother, affectionately known as "Mammy," was Diane’s primary caregiver while her mother worked.

When Diane’s father returned from the war, her parents divorced. Her mother, whose sister lived in California, left to seek a new life there and left Diane behind with Mammy until she was settled. On the train to California, Diane’s mother met a man that ultimately became her stepfather; Henry (Hank) B. Mills. Shortly after they married, Gwen and Hank sent for Diane. She took her first plane ride accompanied by her father.

Gwen and Hank later had two daughters, Gwen and Teri. The family of five purchased their first home in Concord, California. Later they relocated to Torrance.

When Diane was 8 years old a friend invited her to join their family at a revival in San Francisco. There she accepted an invitation to come forward and accept Jesus as her personal Savior.

In the 6th grade Diane completed a family tree project for school. Her biological father had not been in her life since her relocation to California at age 4. This project stoked her curiosity. Diane put Hank in her family tree as she didn’t even know her birth father’s name. With the help of her cousin Adrian, Diane became an amateur sleuth until she eventually learned her birth father’s name and address. She secretly mailed him a letter.

The summer after 6th grade, the family visited Mammy in Dallas. Diane stayed with Mammy when the rest of the family departed. When Diane was finally alone with Mammy, she told her about the letter she mailed to her father. Within a week Mammy had made contact and she and Diane were on a bus to the Rio Grande Valley. Diane was reunited with her birth father Jack. From then on Diane maintained contact via monthly letters with Jack.

Diane stayed with Mammy and attended 7th grade in Dallas. This was the beginning of several moves for Diane between Texas and California. She attended 4 different schools over the proceeding 5 years. At her last school, Gardena High, she met the love of her life Peter Lee Church. Diane and Pete married on August 20th, 1960; the summer after graduating high school.

In their early years the young couple lived in Nevada, but ultimately settled in California before their first child was born. Diane and Pete had two children, Jill Marie (1963) and Christopher David (1969). The Church family spent their early years in various parts of California before relocating to Texas in 1977. In 1978 the family moved into their Plano home where Diane and Pete have lived since.

Diane was an intelligent, articulate, organized woman who could have accomplished anything she set her will to in life. Many have said that she has the mind of a lawyer or an engineer, but that was not her calling. Diane believed that her great mission in life was her family and her friendships. She cared for her children and managed the household full-time until the kids were in middle and high school.

Part of normal Church family life was family vacations, which usually found them in the mountains. From Bear Lake to Lake Tahoe (California) and from Gunnison to Grand Lake (Colorado), Diane loved the cool crisp air and the fresh smell of pine trees. Even after the kids became adults, the extended family would find themselves together in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Diane would be drawn back there in retirement.

As the kids got older, Diane began taking classes related to medical administration which ultimately led to her first job outside the home in many years. Diane went to work as a receptionist in an orthodontics office where she ultimately became the office manager. She managed multiple orthodontic offices over the years and enjoyed the opportunity to build relationships with colleagues and patients. It was her nature to connect with people and look for ways to enhance their lives through relationships.

After the kids left the nest, Diane saw the opportunity to expand her geographic horizons. She traveled to faraway places, sometimes with her mom and sometimes with Pete, including Thailand, China, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, and France. Diane and Pete also took opportunities to visit parts of the U.S. they had never seen such as azaleas blooming in North Carolina, fall colors turning in New England, Mt Rushmore in South Dakota, and cherry blossoms blooming in DC. And, of course, Grand Lake, Colorado, which they ultimately made their home away from home.

During retirement Diane has enjoyed continued travels, being Mimi to her 4 grandkids and 4 great grandkids and transforming a Colorado home into an oasis from the Texas summer where she loved to host family, friends, and missionaries.

All her life Diane has been active in the church; teaching Sunday school, participating in life-groups and bible studies, hosting events, and supporting missions. She was a friend and a role model for women in the church over her lifetime.

Diane passed into her heavenly home on May 11, 2024.

Diane is survived by her husband, Pete Church and her sisters Gwen Mills Schmierer and Teri Mills Bentley (husband, Michael).  She is also survived by her children, Jill Church Myers (husband, Rick) and Chris Church (wife, Kim); by her grandchildren Elizabeth Myers Annen (husband Joe), Jessica Myers Ecklor (husband Nick), Rebecca Church Gerhardt (husband Ryan), and David Church (wife Luisa); and also, her great-grandchildren Michaela Ecklor, Braxton Ecklor, Faith Annen, and Alice Annen. She was pre-deceased by her parents and stepparents.

The family will receive friends for visitation from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, May 17, 2024, at Allen Family Funeral Options.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate Diane’s life at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Allen Family Funeral Options with Pastor Jim Weber officiating. If you wish to join the service via webcast, please visit: https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/100787

There will be a reception to follow the service.

Diane will be laid to rest at City of College Station Cemetery in a private service for the family.

If you desire to send flowers for Diane’s service, please do so for the memorial service on June 1, 2024.