Dorothy Jean Bowles

Dorothy Jean Bowles, 91, Aurora, Colorado, departed this life on July 5, 2017. Dorothy Jean Troup was born in Webb City, Missouri, on July 4, 1926. She grew up in Amarillo, Texas, and relocated with her mother, Gladys Fern Troup, and sisters, Virginia and Barbara, to Enid, Oklahoma as a young teenager. She resided there until her college graduation from Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma, where she earned a bachelors degree in Christian Education. She began her career as a Christian educator in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she met and married her husband Bill on June 3, 1951. She and Bill celebrated 66 glorious years of marriage prior to her passing.

Dorothy was a kind and generous friend to many and was a co-leader with her pastor husband for over sixty years in congregational ministry serving in ten congregations and five states for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). As a leader of Christian education in Kansas, she led training camps and conferences for children, youth, and area congregations and served as a Board Member of the Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Kansas. She was also an available counselor for parents and persons in crisis. In Arkansas City, Kansas, Dorothy was appointed as a member of the Human Relations Council and was a respected and influential community advocate. She was also a feature writer and cartoonist for the daily newspaper, the Arkansas City Traveler. A Biblical scholar in her own right, she was also a creative collaborator with her husband and author, William Bowles.

Her artistic gifts will be remembered through the numerous paintings, cartoons, dramas, original Christmas greetings, quilts, and dramatic presentations she created. Her family will always treasure Dorothy’s annual recitation of “The Littlest Angel” at Christmastime, a tradition from her early training in drama and public speaking.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, William Bowles; her daughters, Judith Bowles and Julie Heerse; her son-in-law, Glenn Heerse; her granddaughter Jennifer Heerse; and her sister Barbara Waters.

A graveside service is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at the Riverview Cemetery in Arkansas City, Kansas. The Reverend Dennis Voth will officiate.

Memorial Contributions may be made on behalf of Dorothy J. Bowles to the Tennyson Center for Children, 2950 Tennyson St., Denver, CO 80212.