Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Joan Elizabeth Burdick was born to Harry Burdick and Elizabeth Stuart Burdick on June 30, 1926. She died on April 25, 2014 at the age of 87.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Bowen, on May 10, 2010. Joan Bowen leaves behind one brother, Hal Burdick (wife Phyllis) of Redding, CA; one daughter, Laura Harrison (husband Howard) of Saucier, MS; six sons, Robert Bowen (wife Sally) of Ukiah, CA, Mark Bowen (wife Sheryl) of Howell, MI, Matthew Bowen (wife Mary), Timothy Bowen, Bradley Bowen (wife Sherlene), and John Ezra Bowen, all of The Dalles, OR. She also leaves behind numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a multitude of ones to whom she was a virtual mom.
Joan was born and grew up in Seattle, WA. During WWII, her father re-enlisted as an MP, which involved moving his family to Boise, Stockton, Turlock, Boise again, and Pasadena. During the war years, Joan was given a test to see how she could be used to help. She tested extremely high in mechanics but was not allowed to become an airplane mechanic as only men were allowed that job. Therefore she worked at Alameda Air Station tearing down airplanes. After high school and the war, Joan went to La Grande to enroll in nurses training. She loved flying and obtained a pilot’s license while there. Continuing her nurses training took her to The Dalles, where she met and later married John Bowen on March 4, 1947. Their first child arrived December 18 of the same year, so she had to discontinue her nursing career. Twelve years and six more children later, her nursing skill become only a part of her multifaceted job as a mother.
Joan loved fishing, as did her husband. They fished together and took their children fishing. Later she took the grandkids. She would also pack up the family for camping in various locations around the area and took the family hiking and swimming on a regular basis in the summer. Joan’s first love in life was encouraging others about a bright future. She loved her family and could always be counted on when anyone needed her. She was well known in The Dalles, and will be sorely missed.
Memorial for Joan Bowen will be at the local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2500 W. 8th St. in The Dalles, on Saturday, May 3, at 1:00 pm.
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