Obituary of Florence Bowen

Florence Irene Krall Bowen died on March 9, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina after a brave and determined battle with lymphoma. "Flo" was born in Eaton, Ohio on May 9, 1926, the eldest daughter and third of seven children of Bert L. and Mildred Wolverton Krall. She graduated from Jackson High School in Eaton in 1944 and from the Christ Hospital School of Nursing in Cincinnati in 1947. Intent on pursuing both her education and a career, she worked first as a nurse in Ohio and then joined the U.S. Naval Reserve as a WAVE. During her naval career, she met her husband, Jack Winnree Bowen, also a naval officer, while she was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bainbridge, Maryland. She received an honorable discharge as a Lieutenant, Junior Grade. She and Jack were married on May 18, 1956. While supporting her husband's naval career and raising their four sons, Flo worked in a variety of nursing positions in California, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington: as a hospital nurse, a nursing instructor at Northern Virginia Community College and Pacific Lutheran University, and as a home health nurse and director. She earned a B.S. in Nursing from San Diego State College in 1965 and an M.S.N. from Catholic University in 1973. After her first bout with cancer in 1979, she became a tireless volunteer for the American Cancer Society and was recognized as the ACS Western Washington Volunteer of the Year in 1986 and 1987. Throughout her life, she loved knitting, sewing, and needlework. Her family and friends benefited from the many sweaters and other items she made for them. She loved her two dogs and took advantage of the many travel opportunities she was fortunate to have. She served her country both through her own naval career and through support of her husband's. She loved her churches, and served as an elder, Sunday school teacher, and volunteer at both Summit Avenue Presbyterian Church in Bremerton, WA and Avondale Presbyterian Church, where she became a member after she moved to Charlotte in 2001. She was also a member of the Charlotte chapter of AAUW. She served as an example to her children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren of what can be accomplished in a long life through hard work and determination. She was devoted to her family and friends, who will miss her keen wit, intelligence, strength, and loyalty. She is survived by her four sons: James (Carol) of Charlotte, NC, John (Beth) of Lakewood, WA, Joseph (Jana) of Seattle, WA, and Jeffrey (Colleen) of Laguna Niguel, CA, her grandchildren: Travis, Daniel, Christopher, Sean, Kyle, Andrew, Jack, Braden, Joshua, and HannahGrace, her sister, Mary Alice (Gary) Essex, and many nieces and nephews. Her husband, her two brothers, and three of her sisters predeceased her. A service to celebrate Flo's life will be held at Avondale Presbyterian Church, 2821 Park Road, Charlotte, NC on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 1:00 pm. The family will receive friends at the church after the service. A second memorial service and inurnment will be held in the Seattle area at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Avondale Presbyterian Church or 24 Hours of Booty www.24hoursofbooty.org/goto/JimBowen. Flo's family would like to express their appreciation to those who loyally cared for her both spiritually and physically during her final illness, including her many friends, Rev. John Earl and Rev. Jane Summey Mullennix, Amanda Seals, and the physicians and patient care staff of Carolinas Medical Center, Carolinas Specialty Hospital, and Sardis Oaks, especially Drs. Benjamin Kirk and John Mahoney and their staffs.