Evelyn Baccus Bowen

Date of Death: January 4, 2011

Evelyn B. Bowen

Evelyn B. Bowen, 86, of Winchester, Virginia, died Tuesday, January 4, 2011, in the Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center, Winchester, Virginia.

Mrs. Bowen was born in 1924, in Glen Allen, Alabama the daughter of the late Lonzo and Mary Audrey H. Baccus. She was a registered nurse with Winchester Memorial Hospital from 1945 -1960. She then worked as a nurse for Public Health Services, at Mount Weather, Virginia from 1960-1990. Upon her retirement in 1990 she had served as a registered nurse for an excess of 45 years. She was a graduate of the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Birmingham, Alabama. Mrs. Bowen was a member of First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Winchester where she served as a Deaconette Emeritus and as a board member. She was a member of the American Nurses Association from 1945 to present. She was also a member of the American Red Cross, the NARFE 180, Virginia, in Winchester, the Winchester Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, a volunteer at Winchester Medical Center and a member of the Civic League of Winchester. Mrs. Bowen was awarded the Chief Nurse Officer Award in 1990 by Admiral O. Marie Henry, DNSE-RN-FAAN, Rear Admiral, Deputy Surgeon General and Chief Nurse Officer.

She married Forest H. Bowen on November 24, 1945, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, while she was employed by the Oak Ridge Hospital. He preceded her in death in 1994.

Surviving is her son F. Harold Bowen, Jr. and his wife, Mary Will Bowen, of Winchester, Virginia, daughter Julie B. Ealy, Phd. and her husband James L. Ealy of Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, four grandchildren, Virginia Bowen Olson and husband, Sean Michael Olson, of Greensboro, North Carolina, Forest Bowen III and wife, Isadora Guerreiro of Reston, Virginia, Mary Elizabeth Bowen of Winchester, Virginia, and Georgia Fisher Arnold and husband, Walter Wesley Arnold of Richmond, Virginia; two great grandchildren Luke Forest Bowen and Sylvie Lenore Bowen.

One brother, William Garlan Baccus and sister, Mary Dean Manges preceded her in death.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Monday at First Christian Church in Winchester, with Reverend Rob Lovett and Reverend Joan Rainsberger officiating. Interment will be private.

Pallbearers will be Mrs. Bowen’s grandchildren.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Jim Ealy, Danny Crimm, Wilbur Feltner , Bill Cornish and Earl Riddick.

The family will receive friends Sunday 2:00-4:00 PM at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.

In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, Virginia 22601 or First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 75 Merrimans Lane, Winchester, Virginia, 22601.

Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com.

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Evelyn B. Bowen Evelyn B. Bowen, 86, of Winchester, Virginia, died Tuesday, January 4, 2011, in the Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center, Winchester, Virginia. Mrs. Bowen was born in 1924, in Glen Allen, Alabama the daughter of the late Lonzo and Mary Audrey H. Baccus. She was a registered nurse with Winchester Memorial HospitalContinue Reading

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Harold and Mary Will, Although it is difficult for you and others to be without your mom, we celebrate that she is now reaping her life's rewards in heaven. She gave to others for so many years, and we will always remember her kindness to us at Mt. Weather. She was a dear friend and we shall miss her warm smile. God bless you all, Donnie and Angie Bageant

I was sorry to hear of Mrs. Bowen's passing. Enjoyed working with her at Mt. Weather. She will be misses. Dwain R. Place

Sympathy in the loss of your mother. he was a gifted "angel of mercy" and she has now exchanged her nurse's cap for a halo.

Harold, Julie and family: I write to pay tribute to your mom--a woman who taught me much about perseverance, pursuing excellence, what it means to be a faithful friend, through thick and thin, and how to just keep walking, doing the best you can, despite your and others' weaknesses. I cannot remember a time when she wasn't like a sister to my mother, always there, always willing to laugh, cry or just be present. True friends are a blessing from the hands of God, and I am so grateful he gave your mom to mine. May the Lord's comfort be palpable to you as you walk out the days, weeks and months ahead.

I was the PHS pharmacy officer who worked with your mother at Mount Weather from 1970-1972. Twenty years later, in January of 2002, I met your mother for lunch in Winchester. We had a great visit and I promised to visit again, but eight years went by and I never did. I am so sorry that I did not keep my promise. She sent me a thank you card, dated January 6, 2002, which I just happend to find today. I wanted to contact her so I googled her name (Evelyn Bowen of Winchester, VA) and, very sadly, found her obituary. I will always regret that I did not contact her sooner so that I could have visited her at hospice Your mother was a great lady and a wonderful friend. My thoughts and prayers are with her and your entire family. Thomas Platek, Frederick, MD

Peace of mind is a call away. We're here when you need us most.

Evelyn and I started working together at WMH in 1956. We became best of friends and continued to be until I told her goodby just before she died. She was like a sister that I never had and we shared many problems and joys together We didn't always agree but we understood each other, and shared a lasting love.

Dear Harold and Julie, Our family was saddened to hear of Evelyn's passing. Our families go way back, and you know the great story of when our Mom and your Mom were in the hospital with their new-born boys, Harold and Roy. It was always so great to see her at FIrst Christian when we would visit Winchester. When we had our family in 2009, Evelyn joined us for lunch and we relived (with cousins) the days at Grandmother and Grandfather's on Amherst Street, at dinners when Evelyn and Forest were part of the family, and our growing up together at Cork Street Christian. She was truly a wonderful woman and friend who did so much to help others. Our love and sympathy go out to you. Love, Larry, Jim, Roy and Scot Hockman

In honor of Evelyn Baccus Bowen, Fritzi Hart lit a candle.

I was sorry to hear of Mrs. Bowen's passing. Enjoyed working with her at Mt. Weather. She will be misses. Dwain R. Place

Sympathy in the loss of your mother. he was a gifted "angel of mercy" and she has now exchanged her nurse's cap for a halo.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.