Gladys Bowen, 78

Gladys F. Bowen, 78, of Imogene, and her friend, Hazel M. Hinkle, 87, of Emerson, passed away Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, in a car accident in rural Montgomery County.  

Submitted Photo

Gladys Bowen

Gladys Frances Bowen was born to John Harry and Louise (Brandt) Trautman Dec. 11, 1933, in McKeesport, Pa. The family moved to Phoenix, when Gladys was 12 years old and she attended North Phoenix High School.  

After school, Gladys worked in several different jobs in the movie theater business, the telephone company and the banking business.  

She married Loyd Bowen Aug. 2, 1953, in Shamrock, Texas. They moved to Farmington, N.M., where they built their first home and Gladys worked in the banking business. They moved to Henderson in 1959, and to their current home in Imogene in 1960.  

Over the years, Gladys worked for Henry Field Company in Shenandoah, conducted vision testing for Kindergarten Roundup and retired after 17 years from driving a school bus for Nishna Valley Schools.  

After retirement she worked part-time for Warren Jewelry and Joslyn Clothing Store, where she even had her own rack of clothes in the back room.

Gladys attended Oaks Community Church and was a member of the Levi Burton American Legion Auxiliary, the Emerson Senior Citizens and Christian Women.  

She enjoyed painting and spent many years enjoying her neighborhood bible study group.  

Preceding her in death were her parents; infant sister, Louise Trautman; and twin sister, Grace Trautman.  

Survivors include her husband, Loyd Bowen, of Imogene; children, Ron Bowen, of Imogene, Luann Hughbanks, of Council Bluffs, Carol Bowen, of Malvern, and Suzanne (Paul) Lees, of Walnut; grandchildren, Brianne (Jody) Marsh, of Neola, Bethany (Jason) Reynolds, of Vinton, Brandon (Maria) Hughbanks, of Oakland, and Erika, Blaine and Ashley Lees, all of Walnut; great-grandchildren, Madeleine, James and Elizabeth Marsh, and Camden Hughbanks; sister, Dorothy (Wendell) Hill, of Phoenix; brothers-in-law, Floyd (Virginia) Bowen, of Hastings, and David (Virginia) Bowen, of Knox City, Texas; and many other relatives and friends.

A celebration of life service for Gladys Bowen and Hazel Hinkle will take place at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the Faith Community Church in Red Oak. Burial for Gladys and Hazel will be in the Emerson Cemetery. Visitation with the families will be from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel.

Memorials for Gladys are suggested to the Oaks Community Church and memorials for Hazel are suggested to the American Heart Association. Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.