Sharon Gayle Bowen

Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, she was the youngest daughter to Keith Gage (a pharmacist) and Tijuana Maud Moad (a nurse). Sharon moved to Florida at an early age with her family and older sister, Tijuana Alicia, and grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida. She attended Boca Ciega High School and went on to graduate from Stetson University where she received a Bachelor’s in Education. She then attended seminary and achieved a Master’s in Religious Education. She met Paul Thomas Bowen and they were married on December 28, 1965. They were married nearly 54 years.

Sharon had a strong and loving spirit. A polio survivor, she was active most of her life, playing in marching band, serving in a children’s home, teaching, and spent one summer during her college years as a summer missionary in the Southwest. A preacher’s wife, she was kind and loved others greatly. She raised three children and taught them to be kind, considerate, and independent and encouraged them to pursue their passions.

She was a dedicated teacher who was passionate about her students and their learning. She taught in public schools, at the Jewish Day School in Louisville, Kentucky, and at three different Catholic Schools in the Washington, D.C. area. She also had an unusual opportunity to teach at the Islamic Saudi Academy in Alexandria. VA. She was proud of being a Protestant Christian but having the unique opportunity to teach in schools of several different faiths.

She is survived by her husband Paul, her son Charles Keith Bowen (Shannon), daughter Alicia Suzanne Bowen (Mary), son Jeffrey Thomas Bowen (Sabrina), and 11 grandchildren.

The service to honor Sharon is Dec. 27, 2019 at Myers Park Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to:

https://www.michaeljfox.org/ OR

https://classroomcentral.org/