Martha Fargo Rowe, 79, of Guilford, died peacefully on Christmas Day at The Connecticut Hospice in Branford after complications resulting from a series of strokes during the past six months.  She was born on Sept. 3, 1931, daughter of the late George Watkinson and Dorothy Allen Fargo.  Martha was raised in Glencoe, Illinois, and graduated from New Trier High School.  She spent a period in Chicago’s northern suburbs with her then-husband, Richard “Bud” Vincent, and her late daughter Polly and son Fargo Vincent.  

After a divorce, Martha re-married Normal L. Rowe and they settled in Glencoe, Illinois, with their new son, Matthew C. Rowe.  Relocations associated with her husband’s work brought Martha to Portland, Oregon, in 1969 for two years and then east again to New Canaan.  During this time, she worked at Carroll Reed in Westport and later at Jose Grant Jewelers in Stamford.  Martha eventually settled in Guilford, close to her son Matthew and his family.  

A true animal lover, Martha volunteered at Forgotten Felines and over the years adopted a number of homeless animals.

Besides her son, Matthew Rowe, she is survived by four grandchildren, Eric Schiesl, Lana Schiesl, Nina Rowe, and Nelson Rowe, and a great-grandson, Ryder Troxel.  

A memorial service will be held in Guilford on the afternoon of Saturday, May 21.