Barbara Marie Bowen, formerly of Shelburne, VT, died peacefully on Feb. 2, 2018 in Charlotte, N.C. Barbara was 80 and suffered terribly from Alzheimer’s disease. She was married at the Zion Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 12, 1961, to her beloved late husband, Dennis Philip Bowen. For 56 years, they were a wonderful loving pair. Picture this: Barbara and Denny sitting at their dining room table silently holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes on Feb. 21, 2017, the evening before Denny passed away. Barbara inspired an entrepreneurial spirit, hard work and the love of art and literature to her two daughters, Ingrid Amols, of Charlotte, NC, and Susan Bowen, of Shelburne, VT. She passed on her passion for learning and creativity to her incredible, wonderful grandchildren, Jane and Ray Lindsley, also of Shelburne. In addition to her daughters and grandchildren, Barbara is survived by her brother, Edgar Roed; her son-in-law, John Amols; Susan’s fiancé, Jim Sadler; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Chuck and Gerlinde Bowen, of Shelburne, Art and Karen Bowen of Selinsgrove, PA, Gail and Mike Rupprecht of Bel Air, MD, and Bill and Marti Bowen, also of Selinsgrove; as well as many dear, sweet nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Denny, Barbara was predeceased by her beloved parents, Louise and Christian Roed, and her older brother, Christian Roed. Also surviving Barbara are many loving relatives in Norway.
Barbara was born in Oslo, Norway, Sept. 28, 1937. She emigrated by ship over the turbulent Atlantic to the United States when she was 13, shortly after WWII. Barbara loved her Norwegian heritage. She kept many Norwegian traditions alive during the year, especially during the holidays. Oh, the many delicious Norwegian cookies mom made, and the garlands of Norwegian flags on the Christmas tree are fond memories! She made the Christmas holidays very, very special. As a child, Barbara and her family suffered under the Nazi occupation in Norway, including hunger, as well as the multiple arrests of her outspoken father and the stealing by the Nazis of her white rabbit. Barbara’s childhood stories are full of tales of Nazi soldiers taking over her school and marching among the children during recess to intimidate them. She held herself strongly throughout her life, most likely because of the horrible circumstances she personally experienced. However, she forever kept in mind the terror and horror experienced by those who were unduly persecuted during the same time. It was a terrible, awful time. Throughout her life, our strong Barbara rarely shed a tear and was always on board to help others in need.
Barbara loved learning, and was a proud medal holder for a perfect school attendance. After graduating from Forest Hills High School in New York, she went on to work as an executive secretary at IBM headquarters on Park Avenue while attending Hunter College in the evening. She put herself through Miller Secretarial School. Following her marriage to Denny, they moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where Denny served as a Naval officer aboard the U.S.S. Savage. After an adventurous cross country camping trip from the west coast while visiting many of our cherished National Parks with their newborn daughter, Ingrid, they moved to upstate New York as Denny began his business career. Over the next few years, they lived in the Upstate New York communities of Plattsburgh, Canton, Utica and Skaneateles. Following that, Denny’s career took them to Wheaton, IL, before retiring to Shelburne in 2002.
While in Skaneateles, Barbara started and operated a successful office support service business, providing various administrative and secretarial services to small businesses and individuals in the Skaneateles area. Her staff and clients loved and depended upon her. She was innovative and had one of the first personal computers in Skaneateles. During her life, Barbara was active in a number of community organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, Welcome Wagon, League of Women Voters, Monday Evening Club, and the Skaneateles Music Festival. After leaving Skaneateles, she continued her community involvement, working in the Head Start Program in Wheaton and with the Shelburne Library. Barbara and Denny were also active members of the Lake Champlain Yacht Club for many years. They sailed their newly purchased 30-foot Catalina from Rhode Island to Shelburne Bay, braving 50-knot winds and 10-foot waves on one leg of the journey. Brave Barb – we do not know how she did that! Afterwards, it was always smooth sailing.
Barbara was proud to be both a Norwegian and an American. Barbara was an amazing, loving, kind, strong soul who was recently described by her best friend from Hawaii, Susan Storms Bruns, as being “the most intellectual and vital person she had ever known.” She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Barbara’s life was full and exciting. She told the most wonderful stories which were never written down, but thankfully memories never truly die. With much love and thanks to all who knew our mom, wife and friend to all, Barbara’s family.
Arrangements for a memorial service have not yet been finalized. Condolences may be offered at harryandbryantfuneralhome.com.