Jean Bowman Van Hoose

April 30, 1924 - April 24, 2015

Jean Bowman Van Hoose cherished mother, grandmother, sister and best friend forever passed away peacefully to her heavenly home on April 24, 2015, just 6 days shy of her 91st birthday. Born in Strasburg, VA, she was the daughter of Elizabeth Strosnider and James Floyd Bowman. The middle of three children, she was raised in Strasburg until her family moved to Washington, DC during her high school years. She graduated from Eastern High School and attended the Strayers Business School. She married Vernon R Gingell and, after ten years of marriage, discovered she could not have children. Undeterred, the adopted Terry and Debbie and she spent the next twenty years raising her family, spending the school year in McLean, VA and the summers in Fairhaven on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. A devoted and loving mother, she was a part of every aspect of her children's lives, taking them to practices, never missing a game, den mother, brownie and girl scout leader, gourmet cook, tutor and problem solver no matter what the issue. Her family was her life. When divorce found its way into her life she once again persevered. She met and married Lewis Van Hoose (Van) and instantly grew her family by seven daughters to which she the love and caring that was her creed. Jean and Van split their time between Fairhaven and Ft Myers, FL where they enjoyed trips on the boat and many friends. When Jean and Van purchased their home in Fairhaven they met their new neighbor, Margaret Tribby (Maggie). They quickly all became friends with Van and Maggie going on long morning walks and Jean preparing her signature dishes for dinner. During this time of her life Jean became a grandmother many times over and, as always, her kindness and love was bestowed upon her grandchildren just as her children.Van passed in 1998 and Jean and Maggie became best friends forever. They traveled the country on summer road trips covering all forty eight lower states and Alaska. They ventured to Europe and Austrailia. Their names became synonymous as there was rarely a time that one wouldn't say "Mom and Maggie" or "Nannie and Maggie". They were as good of friends as any two could be.

Jean was preceeded in death by her mother Elizabeth S Bowman, her father James F Bowman, her brother James F Bowman Jr, her husband Vernon R Gingell and her husband Lewis E Van Hoose.

She is survived by her son Terry L Gingell and his wife Jeanne, her daughter Debra E Gingell, her sister Anna Mae Elwood, grandchildren Jonathan R Gingell DC and his wife Jennifer, Jennifer Edwards and her husband David, Lisa Anderson and her husband Dustin, Jeffrey A Gingell, Anastasia Gingell, her best friend forever Maggie Tribby and her beloved dog Gracie.

A celebration of Jean's life will be held on Saturday May 2, 2015 at National Memorial Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA. Visitation from 12:00pm - 2:00pm, services 2:00pm and graveside service 3:00pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Ct, Glen Allen, VA 23060 or onliine at www.donatenow.org.