Ruth Dickens Bowen

Born October 31, 1915 in Levels, West Virginia, Mrs. Bowen was the daughter of the late Robert T. and Leela A. Powell. She was a former resident of Cumberland, Maryland where she was a graduate of Ursuline Academy, Class of ’34.

Mrs. Bowen was an active Girl Scout for 87 years. She served on the Board of Directors of the Mecklenburg Girl Scout Council and directed Day Camps and Established Camps.

She was employed with The Bethlehem Center as a Social Group Worker where she organized the Sunshine Club for the Blind. She was also employed with the Community Health Association, a United Way Agency, as Public Relations Director for agencies under their umbrella.

Mrs. Bowen founded and was the first Director of the Epilepsy Association of NC. While in office she obtained the non-driver identification through the State Legislature for the people of North Carolina. She also served on the Governor’s Council of Developmental Disabilities for two years.

A member of Grace United Methodist Church, Mrs. Bowen was also a member of the Woman’s Division of the United Methodist Church for many years. Her many activities included teaching Sunday School for more than fifty years, serving on the Administrative Board, Board of Trustees, Personnel Committee and the Council on Ministries. She was Past President of the United Methodist Women and served as a District officer of the United Methodist Women. In 1988 she was elected Lay Person of Year. The same year she was named Woman of the Year by UNC-Charlotte.

Her volunteer work included involvement with Crisis Assistance Ministries and Friendship Trays, as well as teaching art at The Shepherd Center. She was an active and exhibiting member of the Charlotte Art League, Guild of Charlotte Artists and the NC Watercolor Society. Her love of the out of doors reflected in her paintings. Mrs. Bowen was also a member of the Queen City O.E.S. of NC.

She is survived by her son, Robert P. Andrews and his wife, Beth; and two grandsons, Powell Andrews and wife, Valerie, and Michael Andrews and wife, Sharon; as well as ten great grandchildren, Abby, Rachel, Hannah, Hugh, Robert II, Rebekah, Sarah, Emily, Joseph and Faith Andrews.

Her husband, Seth T. Bowen, preceded her in death.

A service to celebrate Mrs. Bowen’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 8 at Grace United Methodist Church. Her family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow in Sharon Memorial Park.

Memorials may be sent to Grace United Methodist Church, 737 E. Woodlawn Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209; Crisis Assistance Ministries, 500 Spratt St., Charlotte, NC 28206; or the Epilepsy Foundation of NC, Piedmont One, Suite 5541-A, 1920 W. First St., Winston-Salem, NC 27104.