Margaret Virginia Bowden

Norfolk - Margaret Virginia Bowden, 78, left us to go be with Christ and her loving husband on August 17, 2015. She passed peacefully in her home in Norfolk. She was the daughter of the late Harry Frederick Gallagher and Margaret Pauline Gallagher. She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph Bernard Bowden, step-daughter, Norma “Tina” Talbot, brother Charles Wood and sister Margaret Josephine Gallagher. She is survived by her daughter Debra Price Mizzell Rehmert and son-in-law Brenton Rehmert, granddaughter Krystal Dawn Hanes and grandson-in-law Jason Alan Hanes, great granddaughter Alexia Joy Hanes, nephew John W. Whitehurst, Sr., niece Gladys Whitehurst, and a host of friends.

Margaret spent many years working for Virginia National Bank as a Supervisor in the Installment Loan Department and later for Goodman Fence until she retired and became a stay-at-home mother and wife. She was a former member of Coleman Place Presbyterian Church and frequently attended functions with the congregation at Cornerstone Baptist Church across the street from Coleman Place. She would laugh with friends from both churches when she told them she considered herself a “baptisterian” after the closure of Coleman Place. She enjoyed taking trips, spending time with her family and friends, watching countless hours of QVC, being outdoors and sitting on her porch in the evenings watching the birds and talking to her loving neighbors. The family extends their deepest gratitude to each neighbor for the love and care all of them have shown to Margaret over the years. She loved her neighbors deeply and spoke highly of them often. Margaret was a loving, caring person who taught everyone kindness, patience and the true meaning of unconditional love. While she will be deeply missed, it is a blessing to know that she is where she has wanted to be for several years and that is happily at peace alongside her husband and love of her life, Ralph.

A funeral service and burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 21, 2015, graveside at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, Norfolk, conducted by Ronald Jones and Arnold Lindblad. The family will receive friends directly following the burial at Margaret’s home in Norfolk. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Diabetes Association & Norfolk SPCA.