Search by Name

Search by Name

Joan W. Bowe

1923 - 2019

Joan W. Bowe obituary, 1923-2019, Vancouver, WA

BORN

1923

DIED

2019

Joan Bowe Obituary


JOAN W. BOWE
May 16, 1923 ˜ July 19, 2019

Joan Winifred Bowe, longtime resident of Vancouver, Washington, passed peacefully from this life, 96, at her home in Touchmark, Fairway Village on July 19, 2019.
She was born in Birmingham, England on May 16, 1923.
Two years after World War II broke out in Europe, Joan joined the British Royal Air Force as a WAAF. She was selected to work in a newly formed, top-secret branch of the RAF as a radar operator.
After the war, Joan went to Berlin with the British government where she met Martin Bowe, an American officer who was leaving the Army to join the US Foreign Service. They were married in Berlin in 1948, leaving the city on a plane that had carried in coal as part of the Berlin airlift. Martin was assigned first to Prague, during the post-war communist takeover, and subsequently to Munich, Moscow, Frankfurt, and Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.
In 1964, Joan, Martin and their two girls returned to McLean, Virginia, where Joan was employed by West Group, a real estate development firm, at which she rose to the position of Vice President.
2 years after Martin’s death in 1992, she moved to Vancouver, Washington and lived in Fairway Village until she moved to Touchmark in early 2017.
Joan was grateful to have such great memories of the places she had lived and the rich experiences she had enjoyed. But she was most grateful to have been part of a loving, close-knit, and supportive family, beginning with her siblings, Audrey, Edna, Bette and Ray, continuing with her devoted daughters, Patricia and Liz, and then carrying on to her five beloved grandchildren, Julie, Martin, Christine, Shannon and Adam. Her nine great-grandchildren will forever be grateful to have known and loved their remarkable “GG.”
Joan was also blessed with the opportunity to touch many lives with her extraordinary gifts and personality: her friends and neighbors; her Good Shepherd church community; her Bible study; her bridge group; her water aerobics friends; the women who were her “other daughters;” and the many wonderful people who in her later years became her caregivers. All of us will miss her charm, grace, independence, and dignity. Many called her “the Queen.” Long may she reign in our hearts!
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 805 SE Ellsworth Rd., Vancouver, WA 98664, where her life will be celebrated at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2019 with a tea reception following the service.
Please sign her guest book @ www.columbian.com/obits

Published by The Columbian on Jul. 28, 2019.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for Joan Bowe

Not sure what to say?





2 Entries

a loved one

August 1, 2019

What a delightful lady. She was smart, charming and gracious. I feel privileged to have known her. She will not be forgotten!!!

Cyril Dodge

July 28, 2019

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results

Make a Donation
in Joan Bowe's name

Memorial Events
for Joan Bowe

Aug

3

Celebration of Life

3:00 p.m.

Church of the Good Shepherd

805 SE Ellsworth Rd., Vancouver, WA

How to support Joan's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Joan Bowe's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more