Fern Royall Bower

Fern Bower, in her 100th year, passed away on May 13, 2017. She was married for 60 years to her beloved Laurence, whom she lost in January 1998. After graduating from high school in 1932 at the age of 15, Fern went to Elmira College on a 4-year scholarship, followed by a year of graduate study in botany at Wellesley College. After moving to Norfolk in 1999, she continued to grow gardens and friendships. She will be missed by her daughter, Linda Dean and husband, Norm, of Norfolk, VA and her son, Glenn Bower and wife, Sherry, of Dayton, OH. Her elder son, Duane Bower, passed away in 1996, leaving his wife Mary. Fern was very proud of her seven grandchildren: Bambi Chapin, Kevin Dean, Sandy Slayton, Jim Bower, Lisa Bower, Daniel Bower and Steven Bower. She was especially thrilled to be great-grandmother to eleven: Tawry, Tucker, Jonathon, Bethany, Rowan, Harmony, Tyler, Cassidy, Madelyn, Charlotte, and Nathan. She was loved by her family and admired by all who knew her. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Smith & Williams Funeral Home, Norview Chapel. Burial will be at 11 am on Friday, May 19, 2017 at Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, MD. A memorial service will be held in Norfolk this summer. Please visit www.smithandwilliamsnorfolk.com to offer condolences to the family and stay updated on the arrangements for the burial and memorial services for Fern. Memorial Contributions may be made in Fern’s name to any of her favorite charities. Intrepid Hospice Memorial Fund, 4510 Holland Office Park, Suite 503, Virginia Beach, VA, 23452 Norfolk Botanical Gardens, donations may be made online or by contacting Cathy Fitzgerald, Director of Donor Relations 757-441-5830 ext. 319 Heritage Christian Church, 15250 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20905