Obituary of Frances Bowen

Frances June "Fran" Bowen departed this life of natural causes July 2, 2012, at Prestige Assisted Living, her home for the last four years. She was born May 28, 1920 in Lakeside, WA to Crawford Earl "Doc" and Iva Merner Russell, the youngest of their four children. Fran was raised in a beautiful two-story waterfront home built by her father on the shores of printine Lake Chelan, WA. She attended schools in Chelan, and after graduating high school she enrolled at the University of Washington, majoring in Business and pledging Alpha Gamma Delta National Sorority. On March 18, 1942, she married her high school sweetheart, John D. "Jack" Bowen, a Captain in the Army Air Corps. Together they raised their four children in Chico. As a busy mother of four, Fran was on the go with her kids school and athletic activities. She was always generous with her children's friends, including them at meals and family events and overnights. A role model of honesty, integrity and sportsmanship, Fran was a fine athlete herself. She excelled at tennis, badminton, swimming, water skiing, golf and played a mean game of ping-pong! Fran worked at Oser's Department Store for a time and then at the Chico State (California State University, Chico) Bookstore, retiring from there to spend the next 14 years on the road with Jack and their travel trailer, hitting all the good fishing spots in Oregon, Washington and Montana. Brookings, Oregon was a favorite destination and they had many friends who traveled with them and with whom she was famous for her "Ole and Tina" jokes, complete with Norwegian accent! Fran also loved music and enjoyed singing in the Bidwell Memorial Presbyterian Church choir for a time. She played the old upright second-hand piano the family had for years. "Nola" was a favorite tune of hers. When home in Chico, she loved her morning walks, gardening, baking her delicious chocolate cake for family birthdays cross stitching, and knitting afghans and baby blankets for family members and new arrivals. Always pleasant and upbeat with a positive fun-loving attitude and radiant smile, Fran truly "looked for the silver lining" in life. Beautiful inside and out, she was and always will be an inspiration to us all. She was greatly loved and will be forever missed! Fran is survived by three daughters, Jan Green (Dick) of Grants Pass, Oregon, Judee D'Anna (John) of Chico, Jill Circo (Gerald) of Chico, and son, Robert "Bob" Bowen (Betsy) of Chico; grandchildren, Jina Roediger of Rocklin, CA, Jeff Daley (Christie) Littleton of Colorado, Cicily D'Anna of Chico, Rusty D'Anna (Lacey) of Chico, Dominic Circo (Jennifer) of Brentwood, CA, Rosalie Luttrell (Ryan) of Citrus Heights, CA, Jessica Isern (Antonio) of Chico, Forrest Bowen (Deena) of Chico, Cara Bowen of Chico; and ten great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. Fran's family sends a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful Prestige staff for their loving care of our precious mother for the last four years. Lori Whitburn, in particular, was her "special angel". In addition, we are very grateful to Enloe Hospice for their compassionate assistance during her last days. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday morning, August 1, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Glen Oaks Memorial Park on Hagen Lane in Chico. If one desires, memorial contributions can be made, in Fran's name, to the charity of your choice.